Bit of a Windows 10 rant - but a serious question and issue

[tundrwd]

I got a pretty cheap Windows box (refurb) for the express purpose of making it a headless PVR for the family. This is a Win10 box (had similar issues with Win7 using Media Center). Note the two key words, "headless" and "family".

My issue is that no matter what I do - I am confronted with passwords. Is there no way to escape the infernal password issue? It's for the FAMILY - it's HEADLESS, no USB keyboard/mouse, anyone can, and SHOULD be able to access it. While I've gotten MOST of the password issues out of the way, it still crops up from time-to-time.

I also use Remote Desktop (Win10 Pro), to access it, and this is one major source of issue - since it logs the login "out", so you can access remotely, and then requires a password when you go back to it. It still occasionally requires a password after reboot.

So - what have others done to resolve this issue - permanently so they can use their device as a PVR/headless device for NextPVR?

I will add - NextPVR may not be the sexiest software I've seen/used - but it's functional and after a month of use - seems pretty doggone reliable. Kudos to the devs.

[Graham]

I have an account with the exact same username and password on every Windows machine. If I am logged on at machine A with this account, then I can connect to shares, for example, on any other machine (even if that machine is logged on using some other account.)

I have the account that is on every machine set with no password ( cos it's easy to type )

Plus, I use this ... http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windo...atic-logon

I dunno about remote desktop cos I don't use it.

[HarryH3]

Remote Desktop sucks in many ways, mainly because Microsoft wants to make absolutely certain that it can NOT be used to allow more than one person at a time to use the same PC. Install UltraVNC on the server, set it to start with Windows. Now you can remotely view the screen of the server without logging out the session that is already running. You can download it from here: http://uvnc.com/downloads/ultravnc/115-d...-1210.html

Even easier to install and use is the free version of Team Viewer, though it does leave a nag screen on the remote system every time that you disconnect. You can get it here: http://www.teamviewer.com

[mvallevand]

What if you try VNC not Remote Desktop? After a reboot does it matte thoughr? You wrote your keyword is headless how often are you on it or do you reboot unless of course you are allowing system updates.

Martin

[live4ever]

Check out RDP Wrap for the remote desktop issues:
https://github.com/binarymaster/rdpwrap/releases

[stustunz]

I might be missing the point don't have Windows 10 on main machine
cmd.exe, execute "control userpasswords2"
Change it so no password needed to log in(Still uses password but its added automatically at start up)
I think if you have no password windows limits you as to what you can access or some crap like that.
Then go to advanced shares on each hard drive and add everyone account with full control access

[gEd]

RDP always logs the user out of the server.
Teamviewer leaves an annoying nag screen behind so that is a non-starter which is a shame as it performs very well)

That is why I have always used UltraVNC for remote admin of the server (and for screwing around with it so that the family wonder what the hell is going on....)

[pkscout]

Another option is Splashtop.

http://www.splashtop.com

The free version only works on your local network, but for a reasonable annual subscription you can access the computer from anywhere on the internet. I moved from LogMeIn (who kept reducing feature set and increasing the price *and* made my call to cancel) to Splashtop and have been pretty happy with it.

[2leftfeet]

I also use UltraVNC - works great for my headless server and on a variety of clients (W7, W8.1 and W10) !

[ACTCMS]

From my W7 laptop, I control several XP machines (including two NPVR servers) using RDP to logon to the main user account on each machine. I stop the RDP sessions by closing the RDP window using the X button thus leaving the main user running in a disconnected state. The NPVR servers continue to run as normal...

Of course, things might be different with W10...

Alex