A missing feature that was requested, was the ability to add encryption to the connection. Sorry it took so long, but here you go!

Please note, all changes are in reference to my original post and those files.

1. Download the latest MSRC4Plugin.dsm: http://home.comcast.net/~msrc4plugin/msrc4plugin.html
2. Place MSRC4Plugin.dsm in \client
3. Place a copy of MSRC4Plugin.dsm, renamed to MSRC4Plugin_NoReg.dsm in \host
4. Download or generate rc4.key. Place in both \client and \host
5. For the client exe, change line 6 in the helpdesk.txt file to “-id $ID -plugin -connect $IP::$PORT -noregistry”
6. For the host exe, add MSRC4Plugin.dsm and rc4.key to vncviewer.7z
7. For the host exe, change line 4 to “RunProgram=”vncviewer.exe -dsmplugin MSRC4Plugin_NoReg.dsm -autoreconnect 5 $RESTRICTED -noauto -64colors -encoding tight -proxy $IP::$PORT ID:$ID”"
8. Edit support.aspx, change line 44 to “”..\7zr a sc.7z ..\winvnc.exe ..\schook.dll ..\vnchooks.dll helpdesk.txt ..\MSRC4Plugin.dsm ..\rc4.key ..\icon1.ico ..\icon2.ico” & vbcrlf & _”
9. That should do it!

As always, I’ve included the changes for you. (You may want to generate a new rc4.key, this one is the one included from UltraVNC)

Download

I looked around online for various ways to export his mail out of Incredimail, so he could use it in Outlook, Outlook Express, or now, Windows Live Mail. No such luck. He didn’t think it was right to have the shell out money for products that may or may not work, the free options didn’t work on the newer version of Incredimail, and of course – Incredimail won’t give you that option. So he stuck with it in hopes that some way would surface… He didn’t want to lose the email that had built up in the client.

This has been an on going problem for almost a year. Every few months we’ve checked to see if someone came up with a solution. Finally, someone did.

Thank you ReynardWare for making incredimail-converter!

Running the converter couldn’t be easier. It took about 20 minutes to export all of his email and attachments from Incredimail, into the Microsoft .eml format. Which we simply drug into Windows Live Mail.

Visit his blog and show him support!

Steel RunAs has you covered.

Steel RunAs helps you in executing commands or applications which run properly when run only with administrator privileges without having to give the user full rights to his machine.

Steel RunAs outputs a single executable (“.exe”) and does not need any installation in the target machine. Steel RunAs also doesn’t need any extension through command line. The end user can simply double click to execute the destined program with alternate credentials.

Strong encryption standards keep the embeded credentials safe and secure.

http://www.steelsonic.com/steelrunas.htm

We have many desktops here at the office, and we want the user data replicated to the server so it’s included in the backups (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Favorites, etc).

We used to use roaming profiles. Though the users were not normally allowed to roam from machine to machine. The upside was, it was easy to deploy a new machine to a user, and of course, we had a copy of their files on the server if their computer failed at any time. The downside, roaming profiles can cause logon/logoff events to take longer. Permissions can get screwed up, which will prevent the profile from synchronizing. Ever have a user complain that they deleted icons on their desktop just to have them magically reappear when they rebooted? Yea… So have we.

We ditched roaming profiles in favor of folder redirection in Vista/7. The upside, files are on the server and included in backup. The downside, you are now working only off the server. There are obvious delays when working with large files/projects.

That being said… Folder redirection with offline files works well for mobile users. As they are disconnected from the network the majority of the time. Therefore, they are working locally. When they connect, files sync, and are backed up. This was not a viable solution for desktop users on our LAN.

The solution? RoboCopy. It’s fast, free, simple to script, and can work with Volume Snapshots (vshadow). I tried a few others, but wanted a simple script that would mirror changed files, periodically, throughout the day.

This following document, I found to be a great starting point.

http://www.eggheadcafe.com/tutorials/aspnet/f6972828-1e81-4cd4-ae0c-36196a82ed25/workstation-open-file-bac.aspx

I downloaded RoboCopy, familiarized myself with the command line parameters,  and wrote a simple script to copy some folders to my server.

Then I worked on implementing vshadow. It was a pain at first. Namely due to the fact that no single exe will work on all platforms. Theres one for 2003/xp, theres two for vista/7/2008 (x86/x64).

I downloaded the Volume Shadow Copy Service SDK 7.2, and started digging into it.

You’ll find the files you need in \Program Files\Microsoft\VSSSDK72\TestApps\vshadow\bin\… I referenced this article, which helped.

I wrote a script to mount a new snapshot, call my robocopy script, then delete the mount point. It errored on “‘dosdev’ is not recognized as an internal or external command“. Seems I’m missing another file. A quick google, and I picked dosdev up here.

Now I can take a snapshot, and mirror user directories to their folders on the server. =)

Here are the files I used.

Hope this helps someone.

p.s. the image, top-right, is a mozy.com t-shirt. i used to use mozyhome. however a good program, it doesn’t apply to this article

How would you like a dynamically compiled single-click VNC, with no GUI, using a repeater, for free?

First off, let’s answer some questions… What is single-click? What is a repeater?

UltraVNC Single-Click is a mini UltraVNC Server that can be customized and preconfigured for download by a Customer. UltraVNC SC does not require installation and does not make use of the registry. The customer only have to download the little executable and Click to make a connection. The connection is initiated by the server, to allow easy access thru customers firewall.

Hmm, ok, and the repeater?

http://www.uvnc.com/addons/repeater.html
Basically allows you to bypass firewalls using a preconfigured server.

Rather than trying to explain it. I’ll give you an example. Lets say your name is John Doe.

Client calls you up, needing computer help / training. You tell them sure, please visit my website. Give them the url to your support page. They are prompted for a session key. They enter the session key, and click ok. Your server compiles an executable with the session key, YOUR name and the ip of YOUR repeater (if you have more than one). Meanwhile, you visit a similar page, for the host (password protected of course). You enter the same session key. The host executeable is compiled and downloaded to your computer. You run it, it connects to the repeater with the session key, and waits for the client to connect. The client runs the executable they’re given, it says “Waiting for John Doe …”, the connection establishes to the same repeater, and now you can see their desktop. Depending on your permission, you may even be able to interact with them.

While this is all happening, you could have 2 or 3 or 10 other like scenarios going on at the same time. Without having to build the helpdesk.txt file, without having to map ports to computers, without users having to be at specific computer with ports mapped and software installed.

And yes, I did mention permissions. Depending on your configuration, Bob from level one technical support may only be able to view a clients desktop, but Fred from level two may be able to interact. Keeps your liability down.

FYI- My files below are setup to disable Aero and UAC on Vista/7, and re-enable after the session ends. It’s also set up for low bandwidth use.

Here are the steps to getting things set up: (I’ll provide the files so you don’t have to do much.)

1. Set up a repeater – download
   The repeater can be ran as an application, or a system service. I have found it’s more reliable running as an application, but this does require a logon session to remain in memory. Run on any windows OS. Configure the ports.
   
   
2. Build the client executable – download my files below
   Take the standard VNC single-click executable. Run it through ResHacker, and make it look like this.
   
   
3. Set up client configs – download my files below
   Config.txt is for 7zip to know how to package and execute your executable. Helpdesk.txt needs to have some variables in it, that your other scripts will replace with the actual data, such as the ip and technicianss name. This is how the client executable knows how to connect and what to say.
4. Set up host config – download my files below
   Config.txt holds the information such as low bandwidth, permissions, etc.
   RunProgram=”vncviewer.exe -autoreconnect 5 $RESTRICTED -noauto -64colors -encoding tight -proxy $IP::$PORT ID:$ID”The variables in caps are replaced by values during compilation time. The restriction level, the ip, port, and session key / id.
5. Set up client script – download my files below in ASP.NET 2
   Build an asp or php page to compile the executable for the client. This script will need execute access on your web server. It will replace the variables in the text files with actual data. Compress all the files needed into one executable, push that file to the browser, then delete any temp files leftover on the server.
6. Set up host script – download my files below in ASP.NET 2
   This will be a lot like the script above. It will compile the host executable in a similar fashion. Here, you can set up which session keys, belong to which users, and what permissions they have.

Tips:

• Try using port 80 for your clients. This may allow them to utilize remote assistance, if their firewalls are severely locked down. I went with the default ports myself, though I may change that if I run into problems with clients being unable to connect.
• The host can save his executable as long as his session key doesn’t need to be changed. This will allow him to connect quicker to the repeater. Which by the way, will timeout after 5 minutes if no client connects.
• You’ll notice my asp.net scripts allow the use of the query string. This allows shortcuts to be made to skip having to enter the session key. Just click the shortcut, and run the exe.
• The host has the ability to create a shortcut. It will ask them where they want to save it (desktop), then future sessions, they can just click the shortcut.

Here are the things I plan on implementing:

• Allowing users to have more than one session key, so they may connect to multiple clients at the same time.

I realize this seems complicated, and its easier to just use other software out there, but hey… It’s free, and it works.

Download the files: (the web scripts are in ASP.NET 2)

• Client Files – Place in a folder on the webserver as is. (\bin\remote-support\client\)
• Client Script (support.aspx) – Place anywhere on the webserver, give full permission. Edit path inside for client files if different than above, add your technicians.
• Host Files – Place in a folder on the webserver as is. Lock this folder down! (\bin\remote-support\host\)
• Host File (support_admin.aspx) – Place anywhere on the webserver, give full permission. Lock this file down! Edit path inside for host files if different than above, add your technicians, adjust a few other things.

We use this setup at work, with a few connections a day, by a few different users.  I also use it personally for friends/family/clients and have found it to be very reliable.

If I missed anything, or you need help, feel free to comment or email me. It should be pretty straight-forward for those of you wishing to tackle this.

Update: My project has been ported to PHP/Linux. Head over to phpremotesupport.com and check it out!

Update: PHPrs is now available for download.  Get it from phpremotesupport.com or download it here.

Update: Added MSRC4 Encryption. Read about it here.

Tech Tools uses Ketarin, which is an application downloader that checks to see if an application has been updated and downloads it if so.

The genius in this tool is that we dont have to have you download all these tools at one time from our website, you’re going to be downloading each file individually from the app’s website. This helps with our bandwidth costs and some authors of the applications, while freeware, wanted the only download of their software to be at their own sites.

There has got to be around 100 apps listed. Go check it out!

http://www.whatsmypass.com/techtools-3-0