Netmeeting replacement in Windows 7

[MMYoung]

This has probably been "done to death" but I did a search for netmeeting on this forum and got no hits. Right now we are using Netmeeting's Remote Desktop Sharing feature to assist us when helping users on our network. It has proven to be a very useful tool that our IT department uses on an almost daily basis. What I like about Netmeeting is it is very easy to set up RDS when I get a new Windows XP (we haven't made the move to Vista) workstation ready to replace one on the "shop floor". Now I'm testing Win7 and I was wondering what the concensus (if any) on what to use when the move to Win7 is made, as I don't think MS is going to let us slide anymore with XP, for RDS in a mixed environment (XP, Win7, Server 2003)?

TIA,
MMYoung

 

[Decca]

Welcome MMYoung.

Does Netmeeting work in Win7? (Never used it)
I should think after you test Win7 for a bit you will want to pass on Vista altogether after comparing the two.

My brother was in IT for the Canadian Gov and they used Win2k for the longest time.
They started making the switch to XP just a couple of years ago.
He laughed when I asked him one day why they didnt use Vista after its release. 'Not stable enough for our department' he said...
They seemed to stay a couple of versions behind the latest OS.
But when you are dealing with thousands of PC's you dont take chances I guess.

To me Win7 is a much less bloated OS than Vista and is very stable here.
I have had it as the main OS on this PC since the first betas stared rolling out.
Havent had a crash yet.
Take care,
Decca

 

[MMYoung]

Welcome MMYoung.

Does Netmeeting work in Win7? (Never used it)

No it doesn't, nor does the "Vista compatible" version of Netmeeting. Unless something is offered to replace it, Windows Meeting Spaces (or whatever it is called in Vista now) isn't even included in the Win7 beta, or at least I can't find it if it is.

Looks like we are going to have to start looking for another solution and right now I'm leaning towards UltraVNC.

To me Win7 is a much less bloated OS than Vista and is very stable here. I have had it as the main OS on this PC since the first betas stared rolling out. Havent had a crash yet.

I'm not so lucky, at least on my home PC. Windows Explorer would crash pretty regularly but it turned out to be a PEBKAC error. I tried out the Nvidia drivers for Vista. I uninstalled them and went back to the Win7 drivers and everything is working OK, even on my ancient PC (Athlon XP 3000+ on an ASUS A7V8X-X mobo that I put together in 2002 or 2003). It's not as stable as Linux running on the same box but then neither is Windows XP.

BTW, in case you don't know it, PEBKAC stands for Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

Later
MMYoung

 

[Decca]

Most of us guys in service think alike...
As a Mechanic I often say "It's the loose nut behind the wheel"...

You might get lucky right clicking the exe file and try XP compatability, then right click again running as admin...
Might work.

Decca

 

[MMYoung]

Actually the hotfix release for Vista (Netmeeting 3.02 I think it was) had to be run in NT compatibility mode. I tried everything, NT Compatibility, XP SP2 Compatibility, Run as Admin, nothing worked. Always was a problem with some dll (don't remember the exact error but others had the exact same error as I "googled" for it) and I eventually just uninstalled it. Like I said Netmeeting was a good fit for us, and I knew that MS was depreciating it, I was just hoping that we could slide by with it for a while longer.

Thanks,
MMYoung

 

[Yoward]

I met the same question,
anyone can help us?

many thanks,

Yoward Wang

 

[FreakyFerret]

I've used Netmeeting. I've not used Remote Assistance. But isn't that what RA is?

 

[MMYoung]

Yes, but we turn off RA within our domain and in order to use RA doesn't the "remotee" need to send you some sort of authorization, like an email or something? With Netmeeting you just make a "call" to the workstations network name and you have a remote desktop session.

 

[FreakyFerret]

Doing a quick search for "netmeeting replacement" brought up a lot of useful hits in Google. Several people recommended Meeting Spaces, Live Messanger, Collaboration, etc. (Pardon me if I got any names wrong, no sleep last night and a severe infection, my head all wobbly.)

To be clear, what you're trying to do is application sharing? User is trying to do something, but can't quite figure it out. You want to remote into their machine, while they're still logged in. Once you're logged in, you see their screen similar to how remote desktop works, but they can still see the screen and control the mouse and keyboard if they want. You then go through the steps to show them how to do what they want. Once you done, you log out and the user's desktop is all "normal" again.

Right? If so, the latest windows messanger program would probably be best. It runs on all platforms of Windows and allows desktop sharing. Granted, I haven't used it personally, just saying from what I read. Also I think you might need a Windows Live server in your domain.

 

[MMYoung]

Right? If so, the latest windows messanger program would probably be best. It runs on all platforms of Windows and allows desktop sharing. Granted, I haven't used it personally, just saying from what I read. Also I think you might need a Windows Live server in your domain.

You have the scenario correct. We "remove" Windows Messenger when we set up new workstations so that's not an option and I don't EVER see us setting up a Windows Live server within our domain. I work for an electric cooperative in NE Arkansas and there are several reasons why that would probably never happen. IIRC, most of the programs you specified require a WLS, but then I've been wrong before.

Looks like we will have to set up OpenVNC when (if?) we have to migrate to Windows 7.

Thanks,
MMYoung

 

[Taran]

SharedView

Microsoft SharedView is a free utility that allows you to share your desktop. Possibly a replacement for NetMeeting... Check it out here..

Welcome to Microsoft SharedView | Microsoft Connect

 

[MMYoung]

This might be what I was looking for. I already have a Live ID and the other user can connect via the "friendly name", if I read right.

Thanks,
MMYoung

 

[MMYoung]

Microsoft SharedView is a free utility that allows you to share your desktop. Possibly a replacement for NetMeeting... Check it out here..

Welcome to Microsoft SharedView | Microsoft Connect

Well I tried out SharedView and I either need to read up on it more *or* it's not what I need. I had the other PC "join" my session and then had them share their desktop. Only thing I saw was like a snapshot of their desktop. I couldn't control/do any thing. With NetMeeting and Remote Desktop Sharing I see their desktop and can use it just like with Remote Desktop but the user doesn't have to sign off. This way if they are having problems I can see their desktop and see what's going on.

If I'm wrong, or if maybe there is some option I need to check in SharedView to make this work like I want it, please let me know.

Thanks for everyone's input,
MMYoung

 

[manhunter2826]

^^Sorry if this is blindingly obvious but was the following adhered to:

To start a session using this program, you must sign in using a Windows Live ID (Passport ID). However, you can use any e-mail ID or even a friendly name to join a session. A friendly name is a name of your choice. This is the name that others in the session will use to identify you.

Source: Welcome to Microsoft SharedView | Microsoft Connect

 

[ickymay]

I thought net meeting was replaced by remote desktop which can be used without the need for a user at the remote computer ........

 

[MMYoung]

^^Sorry if this is blindingly obvious but was the following adhered to:

To start a session using this program, you must sign in using a Windows Live ID (Passport ID). However, you can use any e-mail ID or even a friendly name to join a session. A friendly name is a name of your choice. This is the name that others in the session will use to identify you.

Source: Welcome to Microsoft SharedView | Microsoft Connect

Yep, sent the email. User clicked on the link to start session. Saw user join session had them click on Share --> Desktop. I saw their desktop but it was like a screenshot/image.

 

[MMYoung]

I thought net meeting was replaced by remote desktop which can be used without the need for a user at the remote computer ........

Remote desktop works fine, if I'm just wanting to remote to a server/workstation. If, however, the user is having problems I want to be able to see *their* desktop and the application(s) they are using. I need remote desktop sharing, something similar to Webex or GoToMyPC.

 

[Taran]

MS Sharedview

I was able to test Sharedview the other day. As far as desktop sharing it works great. I was able to see everything the remote user did on his screen and could point at things on his screen for him to see (with my mouse). The user sharing their desktops (just like NetMeeting) can select what programs they can use.

The only thing I was disappointed about is you can't use your web cam or speakers. Oh well, good enough...

(test was ran on a Windows 7 box and a Windows XP box)

 

[manhunter2826]

I thought net meeting was replaced by remote desktop which can be used without the need for a user at the remote computer ........

Remote desktop works fine, if I'm just wanting to remote to a server/workstation. If, however, the user is having problems I want to be able to see *their* desktop and the application(s) they are using. I need remote desktop sharing, something similar to Webex or GoToMyPC.

I'm really confused now. As another poster inferred, what's the difference then between netmeeting and Remote Desktop?:huh:

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
with RDP you are logged on to the remote computer as YOU with your remote user ID.

With Netmeeting you get a view of the users desktop watching WHAT THE REMOTE USER IS DOING.

It's as if you are standing in front of the rtemote users screen watching what they are doing.

Netmeeting does however allow you to "Take over" the remote desktop as well BTW.

The two programs are for very different purposes.

Cheers
jimbo