Can't use remote desktop connection - Need help

notsograymatter said:

Personally, I second the recommendation for LogMeIn. If you don't want to use an online solution, try out TightVNC, I've heard good things.

He's got what he needs built right into windows... It's a settings problem, most likely, it's just a matter of finding out which setting he's tripping over.

I'm sorry but I just don't see why he should have to install even more bloat into an OS that already included the needed functionality.

CommonTater said:

Gil said:

I've set a password before I posted my previous message. I remember that before I used WLAN I didn't have to set users for access. Are you sure this is it? If I only changed from LAN to WLAN and never before had to set users for accessing remote desktop then i don't think I need now.
i don't need logmein, the computers are in the same house and Win7 has it right with remote desktop.

You were on a twisted pair before and now you have a router... ya?

That changes things rather a lot... for one thing you have a third party DHCP and DNS server running... your ip addresses are issued by the router and are now meaningful in accessing various devices... it really is quite different.

You got it.
So how can I fix it? it's broken by the way :)

Gil said:

CommonTater said:

Gil said:

I've set a password before I posted my previous message. I remember that before I used WLAN I didn't have to set users for access. Are you sure this is it? If I only changed from LAN to WLAN and never before had to set users for accessing remote desktop then i don't think I need now.
i don't need logmein, the computers are in the same house and Win7 has it right with remote desktop.

You were on a twisted pair before and now you have a router... ya?

That changes things rather a lot... for one thing you have a third party DHCP and DNS server running... your ip addresses are issued by the router and are now meaningful in accessing various devices... it really is quite different.

You got it.
So how can I fix it? it's broken by the way :)

On your target machine... make sure at least one of your accounts (create one if you have to) is passworded with administrative priveledges... this is the account you will use to access the other machine...

In the target machine get into your REMOTE settings --the dialog you snipped for me-- and enable remote desktop... then click Select Users and enter the account above...

Finally take a look at the Windows Firewall... make sure the exception for Remote Desktop is checked...

Now on the source machine follow the same procedure....

If all goes well these two should now be able to access one and other.

When you click your Remote Desktop connection for the first time, make sure you go into the options and take out the trash... only enable the things you need... and set your video to minimal specs... You only have so much bandwidth if wifi is involved and you don't want to saturate the connection.

From there it should be a matter of simply clicking remote desktop, entering the machine's name, then the username and password ... et voila....

It should be pretty easy, if you follow the steps... I use it on my LAN all the time as a means to remotely administer my HTPC system and pull the porn out of my kids computers (just kidding about the last bit)....

And, because I heard your grumble about having to type passwords all the time when you start your system, I'm attaching a little Autologon utility you can use to have your systems log into a pasworded account automatically on startup or reboot...

Thanks for the detailed post but no luck...
here's the error I got (notice the welcome screen...I'm almost there):

Update: I can access the host machine from the target machine. Both have same settings.
I noticed that whenever I try to access the target machine and fail, I get an error message regarding the ATI catalyst control center when I log back on via the target machine. I hardly believe it has something to do with the connection failure.

Gil said:

Thanks for the detailed post but no luck...
here's the error I got (notice the welcome screen...I'm almost there):

Update: I can access the host machine from the target machine. Both have same settings.
I noticed that whenever I try to access the target machine and fail, I get an error message regarding the ATI catalyst control center when I log back on via the target machine. I hardly believe it has something to do with the connection failure.

That's certainly odd.. The Catalyst Control Center is part of your video drivers, a setup program actually, to let you adjust things. That shouldn't be having anything to do with remote desktop activity...

Have you tried exiting the CCC on your target machine before attempting your remote connect to see what happens?

(In truth, there's no need for it to be running all the time anyway...)

I tried without it but it doesn't help. When I try to use remote you said that the target machine locks up. It's true so far but right after the computer locks up I get the error message in my host computer. When I log back in, I see that the wireless connection in the system tray is refreshing and reconnecting, which implies that when the target machine locks up it looses the connection, disconnecting.

Gil said:

I tried without it but it doesn't help. When I try to use remote you said that the target machine locks up. It's true so far but right after the computer locks up I get the error message in my host computer. When I log back in, I see that the wireless connection in the system tray is refreshing and reconnecting, which implies that when the target machine locks up it looses the connection, disconnecting.

That would be truly strange behavior... What it does is log the desktop, the same as pressing WindowKey+L ... the rest of the computer is still functional... or it should be.

Have you checked the settings on your network adaptors?
As a thought... you could try disabling IPV6, just uncheck the box, don't uninstall anything... and see what happens. Many routers can't deal with it...

You want me to turn off IPv6 on both computers? I doubt it would work since I can use the remote desktop from the target machine on the host machine.
Could it be that the target machine looses connection due to the fact that its wireless network adapter is a USB dongle? once the target machine locks up it somehow shuts down the USB or something like that?

Some dude with the same problem:
Wireless USB Adapter behaviour - Cannot Remote Desktop TO a desktop PC that has Wireless USB Adapter?