Have you ever been at work and discovered you have left a file on your home PC? This explains how to set-up a remote desktop connection to your home computer.
If you have any trouble with the below steps please leave a comment and I’ll update the article to help you out.
Requirements
- Host must be running Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Windows Vista
- Passwords set for all user accounts.
- Be an Administrator on the host.
- You need the IP address of the host computer.
- Remote desktop viewer installed on the client computer. (Start > Run > mstsc)
- Port 3389 of the host computer open on your firewall & your ISP must allow incomming connections.
Setting Up The Host:
Step 1
Open your system properties. (Start > Settings > Control Panel > System)
Step 2
Click the Remote tab. Make sure the “Allow Users to connect remotely to this computer” is checked.
Using the Client
There are remote desktop clients available for all Operating Systems. Most Linux distributions already include a remote desktop client with no need to install any additional software. Windows xp home, pro and windows server 2003 also include a client.
After you open your remote desktop connection client you have to type in the IP address of the host computer. Enter your username and password. If you choose full screen mode, it is like you are sitting at your host computer.
Issues
When you connect to the host computer nobody else can use the host computer. Also if someone is using your computer, you cannot use desktop sharing. This is because Windows is not a multi user Operating System like Linux.
Window XP default RDC port 3389
The default port for Window XP’s remote desktop connection is port 3389. This port must be accessable from the client. Your firewall or ISP cannot block this port. You can use NMAP to determine if the port is open from the client.
How to change the port of Remote Desktop Connection
There are many reasons why you may want to change the port you use to connect. This is a more advanced topic intended for network administrators.
- Start Registry Editor.
- Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetControlTerminalServerWinStationsRDP-TcpPortNumber
- On the Edit menu, click Modify, and then click Decimal.
- Type the new port number, and then click OK.
- Quit Registry Editor.
When you try to connect to the host computer by using the Remote Desktop connection, you must type the new port separated by a colon (ex. MyCompany.com:5050). Also you may want to restart the host first.
References
- Setup a desktop web connection winxp – http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/northrup_03may16.mspx
- Using Remote Desktop with Windows XP Pro – http://www.wown.com/articles_tutorials/Using-Remote-Desktop-Windows-XP-Pro.html
- Remote Desktop Client Download – http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx
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