Run VNC In Vista
One of the annoyances I’ve been having with Windows Vista is that I coudn’t get a VNC server to work. VNC is a remote desktop program that lets you hop on to another computer, see the screen, and take control of the mouse and keyboard. I use it a ton not only inside the office, to provide support to other computers, but also when I’m working from home and I want to hop on my office computer. So not having that option under Vista has been a big void for me, and the Remote Desktop is not a good alternative, because it doesn’t let you see the same desktop you see when you’re actually sitting at the computer. Remote Desktop opens up a new profile and a new user session, and actually locks the computer so anyone else can’t use it. Not good for what I need to do. So I need a VNC server, like RealVNC, running so I can do the work I’m accustomed to.
Today I was Googling around, hoping to finally find an answer to the problem. And I did, sort of, in a roundabout way. It turns out that there are two ways for VNC to run. The first way is to run it as a service. That means it starts automatically and it’s always running in the background, even when you log off your profile. The other way is to run it in User Mode, so it runs like any other program, like Outlook or Firefox, and it shuts down when you log off. Obviously running VNC as a service is the better way to go, but that way doesn’t work under Vista because of some of the new security layers they’ve thrown in the mix. But, it turns out, running VNC in User Mode does work under Vista, and although it’s not ideal, at least it works. And working half-assed is better than not working at all in my eye, so now with this workaround I can get my VNC groove on with Vista, until the VNC folks figure out how to make the Service Mode play nice with Vista’s new security. So that makes me happy.
Details on the workaround can be found here.
Update, 2008: Supposedly the new, paid versions of RealVNC, version 4.3 and later, work with Vista. But I haven’t put down the money to find out.
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Realy thank you for your effort and sharing with us man… this is realy helpfull for me and now i am gonna try this one hope this works..
Thanks again and realy thanks for your time..
Ali
AdWorld Communication
Lahore
This way worked like a charm for me on vista:
Start RealVNC installation
Click Next
Accept Terms and Agreements and click Next
Click Next on Destination for Installation
Click Next on Select Components
Click Next on Select Start Menu Folder
Untick Register and configure VNC Server for Service-mode
Untick Start the VNC Server in Service-mode
Click Next
Click Install
Click Next once install is complete
Click Finish
Click on Start > Programs > RealVNC > VNC Server 4 (User-mode) > Run VNC Server
You will then notice the VNC server icon will appear next to your clock in the system tray and it will state waiting for connections.
I did get this to work. However, I did notice that when trying to do things on the remote Vista machine, whenever you encounter the infamous Vista warning “Are you sure you want to do this? Cancel or Continue?” … you know, the one that makes the whole screen go dark until you answer it. This warning disconnects my VNC session. I have to have the user at the remote end click ‘continue’ and only then can I reconnect. Makes it rather difficult to make system changes, install/remove software remotely. Also, when I run the VCN server in user mode, I chose to run it ‘as administrator’. Makes no difference. When that warning pops up, all bets are off.
It “works” with an exception that each user have to run it or put the shorcut in the start menu. The problem is, the users are using the computer in random. How to set the password via console, i.e. via batch program when users are log on-ing? Thank you for this great information.
You can turn off the “Cancel or Continue” annoyance in the control pannel
i have problems with my downloadable remote admin app when vista goes to the black authentification. Its based off VNC for XP and earlier so the new security layers are wreaking havoc.. whenever I have to install new software or hardware via remote the black screen (user authorization) pops me out and I have to reconnect… still working on a workaround
same problem as Josh above makes it impossible for me to use it as remote admin tool like I did for XP
Try Ultravnc at:
http://www.uvnc.com/vista/
You mention that RDP is not a good solution for you being that it opens a new session upon login and fails to connect you to the console (active) session of the machine. RDP can do this, you just need to provide a switch at startup.
Start/Run:
mstsc /console
Hello, i have downloaded the vnc and its working fine but the problem is that i dont know how to get the server number.
thanks
It seems to me that the makers of RealVNC aren’t too concerned about the free version working with Vista. If you notice, the personal (paid for) version and Enterprise Edition works with Vista. I find it interesting that it works on the paid version and not on the free one. Like the author of this article, I to hope to see this problem resolved in the near future ;~)
Oops, it is only the enterprise edition that will work with Vista.
Thanks!
OK, after some digging around, I found that you can load the user mode server shortcut into the startup and it will work just fine. Be sure to make it an exception in the firewall or just turn off the firewall.
My apologies go out to Real Vnc ;~)
I’ve a problem with my vnc, I want to remote a computer with vista from my comp (use XP) but I can’t remote it when login status (Vista),
can u help me ?????
thanks
Guys if you follow number 2 by jamison it works fine (i now can connect my iphone using vnc lite) this is using the free edition of realvnc on vista ultimate
I have finally installed VnC and have it working on vista completely as it does with xp. Thank you regedit!
None of this resolves the issue of service mode. I do alot of remote administration and if you have to reboot the Vista pc, it won’t load VNC till after the login.
I’m having the same issues still, with Service Mode not working and User Mode being so limited. It also doesn’t work with User Account Control. I’ve been using a hybrid technique where I use VNC when I can, and Remote Desktop when I can’t, and I’ve gotten by.
I hear the new, paid versions of RealVNC work with Vista, but I haven’t put down the money to find out.
Just download the Enterprise edition and use one of these keys:
CY8YA-XSSP2-R7J7J-S6U5U-KBZKA
LXYQ9-4LYQJ-NWG6S-BJGSL-CCWNA
J8B6P-83SF5-8BJ6K-XFSWS-6PYLA
as anon it is working with enterprise edition
just download Enterprise Editon and use the following key it works
K9LKS-9X7LA-SQG3B-87Y2U-SF9LA
I work with vnc4.0, verry well, but the host is Vista computer, I see on vista the screen black!Youu can help me, beacose I can not use vnc 4.0 for vista.
Yo, thanks for all the information and collaboration!
To get this to run automatically:
copy the User mode server icon in your start menu
find Startup in all programs
right click it
select all users
paste the user mode server into this new window
This should get the VNC server to run each time a user logs
onto that machine
Many thanks. This is quite handy dude.
ok