How can I connect my work computer with my home computer so I can work from home more often?

Question

I need to work sometimes at home and don't have info thats on my computer. How can I connect the 2 without using the internet?

Answer 1

You can buy a services such as gotoMyPC that allows you to access the folders in a remote computer.

http://www.gotomypc.com

Answer 2

This is a very tricky question, there are quite a few things to consider before this can happen...

1. What is your company's policy on remote access?
2. Are you a salaried or hourly employee? Some companies will not permit hourly employees to work remotely.
3. Does you company have a VPN, and if so what is the cost to them to install, maintain and license the software for the connection?
4. Is your work PC a laptop or desktop? If you are attempting to access your work desktop pc remotely via your personal home pc, there could be greater risk issues associated for the company.

You should try to get answers to the above questions if you are serious about getting remote access. I would start with your direct manager to find out what (if any) remote access is available and what is required to gain these priviledges, this will usually get you pointed in the right direction. It may even earn you some brownie points. But take note... if an employer sees you work too much from home there could be concern that you are not performing at the required skill level durning the day, and they may question your competence.

That being said, if you want to ignore the above there are a few more options. There is readily available software that will allow you to either dial into your work pc via modem or a broadband connection. I would suggest looking into Ultra VNC or DameWare (for broadband connecting) or Symantec PC Anywhere if you work in a mixed broadband / dial-up world. The below links should be helpful.

http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net/
http://www.dameware.com/
http://www.symantec.com/home_homeoffice/products/overview.jsp?pcid=pf&pvid=pca12

Answer 3

There are several solutions that you have to pay for (GoToMyPC, PCAnywhere, etc.) If you have a static IP and XP Professional at work, the cheapest, easiest and most secure way is to establish a VPN (virtual private network).
I can e-mail you the details. In essence, you make a remote connection to your public IP address at work (typically a router), then use the Remote Desktop feature built into XP to access your work computer. It will be as if you're sitting at your desk. You'll see your work computer's screen, use "its" mouse and keyboard, access it's files, even print (at work or at home). Since it's all encrypted, the connection is secure and all the data remains on the work computer.

Without the internet, you'd have to use a dial-up connection, with a dedicated phone line and modems on both computers. Costly, inconvenient and extremely slow... so slow you'll quit in frustration. Using the VPN uses the internet, but securely. It creates a secure "tunnel" from home to work.

Answer 4

OK so you have the following. Router Modem I am assuming that you are using your unit to share out the internet to your childrens computers. "bought a US Robotics broadband router and networked my boys computers and mine to share the DSL connection" Did you get a hub? It would be better to use a hub in sharing your internet. Each unit is independent from each other. File sharing is where the problem starts. Another thing you have to check is that your XP firewall protection might have just engaged. Cause sometimes it happens, its a flaw.

Answer 5

The only way to connect them without using the Internet would be to have modems installed in both machines and use something like PC Anywhere. Set your work machine as the host, then dial in from home.

Answer 6

If they are windows machines (perferablly Pro) then you can setup remote desktop control. Then at work have your firewall buddies port forward port 3389 to your local ip at work.

Then when you are at home you can go to remote desktop and type in the IP address to your work and it should go through, make sure that you have a password setup on your work machine, or it will not work.

Also see the sources on how to set this up, I gave you a 4000 mile above view,
Chad

Answer 7

The Internet is a vital link. You cannot hook up without it. Remote programs that will let you control your work pc from home and vice versa, and that are free, 2 come to mind: ultravnc at:
http://www.ultravnc.com/
and hamachi at:
http://www.hamachi.cc/
I have not used hamachi but hear that it is very good. I use ultravnc all the time to remotely hook up to my customers computers to troubleshoot and repair them.
Alternatively, you can copy all your working files on a usb key everynight and transport them home and then synchronize them the next morning at work with a free program called SynchBack available at:
http://www.2brightsparks.com/syncback/syncback-hub.html

Answer 8

You can't! You have to do it over the internet or transfer files manually which is rediculous in this day and age, pc anywhere is a great program.