Hi all, I've got a small, wired home Network (3 computers)and everything is working well. We have setup a limited amount of shared files between all 3 computers, no problems. We have now decided that, if it's possible, we would like to run programs on one computer, from one of the others. I have heard of LapLink but really don't know if this is what I want or if it's too much of a program for my needs. Does someone have an idea for me, is there something in XP or buy another application? Any help will be appreciated, John It's not that I can't remember things as I get older, it's just that my hard drive's full.

Don't buy anything. Share the drive and see what will run and what won't. Programs use registry settings and .dll files. That may prevent some things from running.

Worst comes to worst and you can't run a certain app over the network, you can remote in to that PC with Remote Desktop Connection and run it that way.

don2006, thanks for the suggestion, gave it a go, unfortunately the first thing I tried left its backup on MY computer not the remote, gave no indication that this was going to happen. I'm going to try some other progs to see what happens, if this happens with everything I'm going to have to buy something. John It's not that I can't remember things as I get older, it's just that my hard drive's full.

You can also do what Curt suggested w/ Remote Desktop or maybe even a VPN.

Bigger companies use applications across the network but there are all sorts of other issues. Might look at a linux solution if you wish to run a type terminal services.MS would require at least NT server or 2000 server for even sort of modern apps. There are things like RDP and VNC to use desktop and you could in fact install applications to mapped drives normally. There are also people who have made portable applications to run from USB flash drives. Those portable apps run from remote locations very well. As above not all apps can be made to run across a network. Some are made to detect that. Last but not least there is a gizmo that runs applications on your system to almost any keyboard mouse and monitor. See Ncomputing products.