Remote control a computer using another computer

I've got a main desktop computer at home, I'd like watch movies using it but able to control it afar.

For example, I would like to lay on my bed and control the desktop using my own laptop via wireless.

I've been looking for solutions to my question. I tried to use remote desktop, I can pause the movie but I then have to go to the pc to log in the OS again. I also tried to bind my desktop to my mobile phone over bluetooth, this works as I can control the mouse etc. but I found I can barely see the mouse pointer when at long distance.

I still wish I can use my laptop as a remote control, is this possible?

Dean

Posted 2009-12-21T00:31:56.850

Reputation: 320

SNAP! I win! :) – Callum Rogers – 2009-12-21T00:38:44.087

got an iPhone handy? – JT.WK – 2009-12-21T01:32:48.807

Answers

The program you want is Synergy. I personally have used it exactly as you describe.

Here's an explanatory picture from their website:

synergy

So you would set up your laptop as the server, and your desktop as a client.

If you have problems seeing the mouse cursor on the far away monitor, I'd suggest you simply increase the pointer size in the control panel.

Blorgbeard is out

Posted 2009-12-21T00:31:56.850

Reputation: 2 565

+1 for synergy, use it every day for a windows/linux system, thing is a life saver! – RyanIG – 2016-07-01T12:45:24.180

1Haha, yay, I made that image. +1 for using it! :) – Nick Bolton – 2010-01-12T05:55:07.407

For minimal configuration, I recommend TeamViewer. It will not log you out like RDC.

John T

Posted 2009-12-21T00:31:56.850

Reputation: 149 037

simply the best ... – None – 2009-12-21T00:56:33.800

Teamviewer is great - I use it all the time, but maybe Synergy+ is better when you can physically see the remote computer's screen. I am bias though, of course. – Nick Bolton – 2010-01-12T05:57:12.473

VNC: http://www.realvnc.com/

Sastira

Posted 2009-12-21T00:31:56.850

Reputation:

There's a tool for Windows Media Center computers that allows you to send commands from one computer over ethernet or wifi that are interpreted by the other computer as if they came from a media center remote. I don't think that it's really necessary for the destination computer to be a Windows media center PC. It's called MCE Controller

Source is available via Source Forge

Havn't played with it yet myself, it's on my todo pile :)

John Knoeller

Posted 2009-12-21T00:31:56.850

Reputation: 239