windows firewall and vnc

[ffrr]

I have been using vnc on my pc at work to use from home.... all has been fine for the last 4-5 months, no problems at all...

my work machine got a virus a few weeks back. I factory restored it, as there's nothing of any significance on it, reinstalled all my progs, and vnc. Left the machine working 100% virus free.

At home, vnc connected right away and I downloaded all the required windows updates, inc SP2 (which I already had before this problem), turned on the firewall and then I disconnected. Then vnc wouldn't connect.

The next day I setup the windows firewall to accept vnc, as it's setup on my home machine, but this didn't help, it only accpets vnc connections now with the windows firewall off. I have tried various other setups and options but as soon as the firewall is switched on vnc doesn't connect.

I'm puzzled as to why it's doing this, like I said it was setup a few months back, with the firewall (it was actually the first thing I setup) and no problems. Also vnc is ticked in the exceptions box tab! The only thing I haven't tried is to see if I can ftp to my pc via my work one to see if I can connect, but I just cut myself off from the work comp, hehehe, and there's no one there to turn the firewall off right now. Looking on the bright side, at least I know firewall does work!

..any ideas?

[roton]

the one in the exceptions tab maybe the viewer. have you tried manually adding a program to the windows firewall? try adding all the exe's in the vnc directory (browse manually for these since they will not be listed in the exceptions list). if this works remove each one til you know which one is the correct one.

[chubblies]

Why not just use remote desktop? VNC is un-encrypted, so anyone with a packet sniffer program on the net could easily view your session. RDP is at least encrypted, and better to use in terms of graphics, lag etc

[ffrr]

thanks for the above replies :) .... I just got it working after setting it directly to my IP in the advanced> advanced settings within the network options.

It's still odd how it worked one minute and not the next though?!

I'm using an encrypted service for vnc, never tired using a remote desktop, I didn't think it was as easy (quick) to setup, plus my ip isn't static at the moment, which is a real pain in the neck.... anyway thanks again :)

[digital-cipher]

remote desktop is ok untill you need to install or uninstall services, ultravnc 100%
to add vnc to sp2 firewall exeptions =from a command prompt type
netsh firewall add portopening TCP 5900 VNC

[Chip2k]

Its free and easy as piss: www.logmein.com