Having RDC Issues

I'm have a sort of unique problem. I installed 7 Ultimate on both my desktop and notebook last night (64bit on desktop, 32bit on notebook). Both machines were previously running Vista Ultimate 32bit.

The problem I'm having is while setting up remote desktop I was having trouble logging in. In vista I logged in using the machines name and then the user account name. That no longer works. Instead I have to use my external IP to connect from desktop to notebook. I cant connect from notebook to desktop.

I've went into the registry and made sure both machines are listening to different ports for RDP (3388 - Desktop, 3389 - Notebook). Ive also forwarded those ports through my router for both machines. I find it odd that I now have to use my external IP to connect and that that only works one way. Both machines have identical settings as far as the RDP options. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

hello r3g

forwarding ports should not be necessary if both computers are on the same network (i.e. when they're plugged into the same switch or router [as long as they're not plugged into the WAN port]).

changing ports is not necessary either. Both computers can be on 3389 again provided that your connection is not being routed from the internet side of the router to the local side.

check the IP addresses of both computers. Make sure they're on the same network (192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 is common)

Also, let us know if you are using any kind of VPN because it could cause problems like this.

No VPN, just a normal Linksys N draft router. IPs arent conflicting either. I've been through every option and checked every setting I could think of. It just doesnt make any sense.

r3g said:

It just doesnt make any sense.

You're right it doesn't. You should be able to use the private (internal) IP address to connect to either computer.

I was when I was on Vista Ultimate. Think something went wrong during installation? But on both machines.. Seems unlikely.

try resetting your router to default settings, reboot your computers and then connect by RDP using the computer's hostname or private IP address.

If it doesn't work, something is wrong with your install (since the router would be at default settings I don't think it will cause this problem).

So I've made a little bit of head room... Deleted all port forwards and set things back to normal. Now I can successfully log in using the internal IP addresses BUT that only works until I reboot one of the machines. After a reboot rdc wont connect again unless I switch the setting "Allow Windows to manage my homegroup connections" to "Use user accounts and passwords to connect to other computers" then back to the first option in the advanced homegroup menu. Windows has me log off and back in after each change. This has to be done on both machines in order for me to be able to rdc into the other.