Whirlpool

Hi there,
I've got my new Vista Ultimate running almost the way I want it. One problem is, I can't VNC to it properly. I can do Remote Desktop Connection ok but I'm usually not on a windows desktop and hence won't be able to do Remote Desktop connection to Vista (which I actually REALLY LIKE. *thumbs up* to Vista from this once "Nix only" admin/user. I'll see how long that feeling lasts for ;) )

Anyway, when I've installed TightVNC, RealVNC and UltraVNC, they all have the same issue/problem. I can VNC in fine, I get the password prompt up, VNC in but all I can see is a black screen in the VNC window/full screen. I haven't taken my laptop next to the desktop yet to VNC in and see if I can control the mouse (without seeing it) but I'm doubtful. I've sent a "ctrl-alt-esc. ctrl-alt-delete" to the desktop via VNC but nothing has come up when I look at the desktop shortly after killing the VNC session. I have ran the VNC server as an administrator for each server if that helps for anything. No firewall is on the Vista desktop and won't be while I'm behind a NAT hardware firewall :)

Has anyone seen this and/or know of a fix-reason for this? I'd love being able to get to my desktop when I'm not at home for various reasons. Not in an ultrarush so I'm still getting the hang of Vista and stuff + looking into the "deeper" parts of Vista besides the basic desktop/visual side of it.

Any help with this is appreciated :D

my hunch is vista aero.. can you get the vnc service in the vista machine to start in compatability mode and disables vista aero and see if the black screen disapears when you login next...

cheers

One question,

Are you sure these support Vista, AFAIK UltraVNC doesn't work in Vista and Compatibility Mode won't solve its issues.

Although UltraVNC doesn't work, I'm not too sure about the others.

I'm sure UltraVNC supports Vista (at least) as people have stated it does in various forums I have read. I'll look into the Aero thing when I next check my desktop, ta.

*edit* A la www.mydigitallife.info/2...in-windows-vista

That isn't an issue solely related to Vista, the same thing is a known and very frustrating bug with XP.

Dichoto-me writes...

That isn't an issue solely related to Vista, the same thing is a known and very frustrating bug with XP.

Strange (for me) I've been using VNC for years to VNC to workstations at my old workplaces and never encountered this. Just happened for the first and everytime I've tried to VNC to my Vista machine.

Yep, had used it for a couple of years myself without coming across it until one day it magically popped up on one of the comps on my home LAN. Spent weeks chasing after it, in the end a format fixed it.

Ok, it was the Aero theme. Finally had time to use my desktop, disabled it and sure enough, I could VNC (with UltraVNC) in :D Many thanks DJ Nikos :)

your welcome, glad to be of help and actually now that it confirmed I might setup VNC on my vista (already use VNC on my w2k and win xp machines)...

Wazza writes...

hence won't be able to do Remote Desktop connection to Vista

You can use www.rdesktop.org to connect to windows RDP from your Nix box.

I haven't connected to Vista but I administer many 2000/2003 servers and it works well.

urnme writes...

You can use www.rdesktop.org to connect to windows RDP from your Nix box.

Cheers, I'll look into that, I did take a look not too long ago with it tho. From reading I did recall (last week?) that Vista wasn't supported (yet) but I'll take another look to see if I read the latest info and stuff.

Nice one. That works :) Thank you!

Making a few leaps and bounds with my first real use of VIsta (and Windows really) for a while. Ta :) :)

Got same scenario, installed full Vista Ultimate version, got black screen TightVNCing it.... Please, need help configuring the whole installation with UltraVNC or whichever VNC works best
thank you
Jose
ehubcap.com

Just take off the aero theme... EASY

I thought it might be worth mentioning this. Some time back I started having this issue where I would connect to clients computers and I would get a black screen for a short while then loose connection. After A WHOLE LOT OF TESTING... I finally figured out that it was 100% with out a doubt a problem with the firewall. And not just that one firewall but ALL netgear firewalls have a bug in the software/hardware that can randomly cause this problem. Put a DLink in and the problem totally vanishes. I spent HOURS working with Netgear trying different routers. It might work for a while then suddenly it would start coming up black. I also found that port forwarding anything that had a stream tended to dump after a bit. They dropped the ball on this so many times that I finally just gave up and stopped using them. To my knowledge this information I am sharing with you has been covered up by Netgear now for well over a year. Their stance on this is as follows, and I quote, "About 10% of our users use port fowarding, we are not getting complaints, so it is not that important to us.". They may be getting complaints. It took me almost a week before they finally acknowledged that there was in fact a problem.

with ultravnc u can have it working without turning off aero. on the server side (vista) u go to user properties and u untick "Poll Full Screen"