Distant Desktop ( Free Remote Desktop Software)

[JoelM]

When I start Quick Assist & then choose Give Assistance it takes me to a Microsoft Login screen. I can't do anything without logging in.

 

[fincoder]

Quick Assist definitely requires a Microsoft Account from the assister, but not the assistee. MS Acc login to the computer isn't required though.

I set up another MS Acc just for quick assist, so it has my business name as the 'name'. This 'name' is displayed on the assistee's computer when asked to allow remote assistance.

I assume that it always prompts for an account to allow a different account to be used from the MS Acc login.

 

[britechguy]

I assume that it always prompts for an account to allow a different account to be used from the MS Acc login.

Kinda, sorta, but not exactly. If you are already logged in with a Windows 10 User Account that's linked to a Microsoft Account, and you give the Quick Assist a different login identifier for a different Microsoft Account, this is what you get:



Clearly, you're being given the option of either using the account your Win10 user account is already linked to, or you will be signing out entirely and using a different Microsoft Account altogether, somehow. If you don't have an account on your machine that's already linked to the one you want to use, or a local account under which it could be used, I'd imagine some form of "black hole" ensues.

 

[fincoder]

or you will be signing out entirely and using a different Microsoft Account altogether, somehow.

No, it allows you to specify any MS Acct for the app, nothing to do with being 'signed out entirely', and it doesn't need to be already on your machine in any way.

That's pretty much how it works with any app that requires a MS Acct.

 

[GTP]

Surely they could do better today without requiring Microsoft account BS.

Then how would they profile, track and follow you around the internet?
Microsoft will go broke.

 

[fincoder]

Surely they could do better today without requiring Microsoft account BS.

There's actually one good reason I can think of for requiring MS Acct for the assister to use Quick Assist: to help prevent scammers from using it. I suppose they could create new 'burner' accounts all the time but it's less likely. It's possible that MS actually considered the remote access scams when designing Quick Assist.

 

[Computer Bloke]

I suppose they could create new 'burner' accounts all the time but it's less likely.

Microsoft throttles the creation of new accounts if it sees too many requests from the same IP address within a short period. It's a nuisance when you're setting up a whole load of unrelated computers at once but it's nice to see that they've thought about this.

 

[GTP]

You kinda need an MS account in this business just to support customers. There's no cost so I'm not sure why the rant.

I've never had nor will I ever have in the future a Microsoft, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram, Fakebook, Whatsapp, Telegram, Pinterest or any other account like these apart from Signal and Steam.
I have 4 gmail accounts (needed to use my Android phone and logging into Pokemon accounts) but I dont use them for email.

I support my clients just fine.

 

[GTP]

I don’t sign into my computer with a Microsoft account, local admin only

I could never understand this behavior.
Why in heavens name would you sign in to your computer with a Microsoft Account?
The day MS make this a requirement will be the day I go Linux exclusively.

 

[britechguy]

Why in heavens name would you sign in to your computer with a Microsoft Account?

Because there are a number of advantages, most pretty well-documented by Microsoft, in doing so. Particularly if you are using OneDrive to share data across devices and to have your MS software licenses linked to your account.

I'd never go back to a local account. Much like I'd never go back to not logging in to my various browsers so that the sync function across devices occurs automatically and if I set up a new instance of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc. all of my settings, theme(s), etc., come right along.

But, truly, to each his or her own. It's all about the choices that feel right to you.

 

[GTP]

Particularly if you are using OneDrive to share data across devices

Oohh, OneDrive - the vast pool of data that MS can mine for golden nuggets that make them a huge amount of cash?
Yeah, no thank you.

But, truly, to each his or her own. It's all about the choices that feel right to you.

It is all about choice. No argument from me.

 

[fincoder]

Particularly if you are using OneDrive to share data across devices

I use OneDrive, Office license in my account, and Edge favourites syncing, without using MS Acct login.

 

[britechguy]

I use OneDrive, Office license in my account, and Edge favourites syncing, without using MS Acct login.

Which means you log in to OneDrive (using a Microsoft Account), bought Office [or installed it] identifying yourself with a Microsoft Account, and most likely have a Microsoft Account (but I don't know whether they support separate Edge sync accounts) for Edge.

So what's the point in avoiding using a Microsoft Account linked Win10 User Account again?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Because the windows login itself isn't locked to Windows Hello and subject to lockout when MS borks their auth servers again.

I also do not have the Microsoft account integrated with my Windows account, I simply log into each app as needed. And when one of Microsoft's interns screws up another update, I don't lose access to my desktop. Sure... onedrive and the rest can sometimes be an issue, but I can still use my machine.

Which is why I also do not recommend use of Microsoft Accounts in general.

 

[britechguy]

Because the windows login itself isn't locked to Windows Hello and subject to lockout when MS borks their auth servers again.

Which it isn't, at all, should you choose to use your password to log in.

One can log in to a Microsoft Account linked Windows 10 user account with no internet access whatsoever once it's been initially set up. But we all know that you cannot tolerate the idea of a password, so . . .

Microsoft is not stupid. They know (and knew, at design time) that there would be myriad occasions when one would have to be able to log in to a Microsoft account linked Windows 10 account without being able to access their servers.

 

[timeshifter]

I use UltraViewer for these situations. Free, similar to TeamViewer.

Mainly use ScreenConnect for all my stuff. But UltraViewer has been my go to for clients who want their own onesy twosey remote sessions.

 

[Sky-Knight]

@britechguy If and only if the Internet is "down". Internet access isn't binary, up or down. It often has these strange states between where it's sort of working but not. And in these cases I've had far too many problems where the system refuses to recognize itself as offline so it'll use the locally cached credentials. Then you pull the system offline and it flat won't use them because it's tripped into some sort of protective state. Refusing any and all access until Internet connectivity is restored.

They are edge cases, and they are far less frequent in 2021 than they were in 2010, but they still happen so I work around that reality.

 

[fincoder]

Which means you log in to OneDrive

and other apps, yes! That was the point of my post. It was in reference to yours stating that MSAcct login enables those features, it doesn't because the account can be specified for each of those apps if needed. And even though this has been pointed out many times by local account users, it keeps getting repeated that MSAcct login is required for those things.

There are one or two sync features that require MSAcct login, such as personalisation settings sync which to me is useless, I don't particularly want exactly the same look on different machines. Windows license stored in MSAcct is only needed when changing motherboards, I've done that too by simply switching to MSAcct login for one login then reverting back to local account.

So what's the point in avoiding using a Microsoft Account linked Win10 User Account again?

My user account, my rules for password, MS not notified whenever I logon, avoidance of potential issues due to an unnecessarily over-complicated login process (complex internally I mean, not for the user). I actually think it's easier to use local acct.

And given my ability to use all those MS services without MSAcct login, so what's the point in using MSAcct login again?

 

[britechguy]

And even though this has been pointed out many times by local account users, it keeps getting repeated that MSAcct login is required for those things.

You may, absolutely, use a local Windows 10 user account.

You must, absolutely, use a Microsoft account (or accounts) in conjunction with that local Windows 10 user account.

I still don't see the advantage, but to each his or her own. I don't "mix and match" the MS Account linked to my Win10 user account when using Microsoft Services. Much like I don't "mix and match" my Google Account when using Google services. If you're someone who wants to be logged in to OneDrive using one Microsoft Account and a different MS account for another, all the while using a local Windows 10 account, then more power to you.

I like the convenience of having any Microsoft service open "automatically associated" with the Microsoft Account that's linked to the Win10 User Account I happen to be using.

 

[sapphirescales]

Which is why I also do not recommend use of Microsoft Accounts

You forgot to mention Microsoft's new sh*tty policy of encrypting your drives without your permission when you're using a Microsoft account. That's always fun.