TightVNC installation and use

Server installation

Step 1:

Download the latest stable setup version (description: Self-installing package for Windows') from TightVNC.

Step 2:

Run the tightvnc-1.3.10-setup.exe and click Next to set up.

Step 3:

Click Next to agree terms.

Step 4:

Choose a destination directory for the program files, then click Next.

Step 5:

Select the components to install, and then click Next.

Step 6:

Choose a Start Menu folder, and then click Next.

Step 7:

Select any Additional Tasks, and then click Next.

Step 8:

Click Install, then click Finish.

Server configuration

Download and run the recommended add-on, dfmirage-setup-1.1.68.2.exe, at the bottom of the TightVNC download page. This will install the DFMirage mirror display driver, which is the preferred display driver.

The server settings can be pre-configured in a windows registry file, which can then be used to easily set up the server in one step.

However, the password entry is stored in the registry as an encrypted hexadecimal value, so unless you know the hex value you want to use, you will have to first start TightVNC, create a password, and then extract the hex value from the registry. To do this:

• start TightVNC, create a new password in TightVNC (if required) and then close down the TightVNC server.
• Next, click Start » Run..., type regedit and click Ok
• Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE » SOFTWARE » ORL » WinVNC3 » Default
• From here you should be able to see the 16 digit hexadecimal number next to the password entry. Note this down for use later.

Below is the contents of a registry file that has been created with all server settings pre-configured. These can be adjusted to suit by changing the dword value

Open a text editor (i.e. Notepad) and copy and paste the contents below into a new file:

Search for and replace the string tvncpass with the hexadecimal value that was noted down earlier from the registry. This will change the primary and view-only passwords for the local machine, the current user and default user.

Save the file as some-file.reg (a registry file), and then double-click on the registry file to run it.

A dialog box should appear confirming that the settings have been successfully entered into the registry. The server can now be started from the Start Menu.

Viewer (connecting to a computer remotely)

Step 1:

Run the TightVNC Viewer executable (vncviewer.exe).

Step 2:

Enter the IP address of the computer to be accessed.

Step 3:

Choose a Connection profile.

Step 4:

Click Connect.

Notes and Tips

What is the default password in TightVNC?

There is no a hardcoded default password -- that would be too insecure to have one. The "default password" in TightVNC refers to the password used when there is no user logged in (and WinVNC is being run as a system service). To change the default password, choose TightVNC\Administration\Show Default Settings, in the Start\Programs menu.

SOURCE: www.tightvnc.com

Unattended install using a batch file and executables

The TightVNC executables can be downloaded without the installer, which is useful if you want create a batch file for an unattended install using you own custom settings.

Download the latest stable zip version, description: Complete set of executables, no installer) from www.tightvnc.com. The only files required to run TightVNC are: VNCHooks.dll and WinVNC.exe.

TightVNC on Ubuntu:

To install the TightVNC viewer in Ubuntu, from the terminal type:

sudo apt-get install xtightvncviewer

Once installed, type:

xtightvncviewer [IP address]

Ubuntu login to a locked computer:

Press shift + ctrl + alt + del

or, while the mouse is over the VNC screen:

Press F8 for a menu

Go back to the How-to Guides main page.