Can't figure out how to add a non-local user for RDP access.

[laggy]

I just got a new laptop for school, and I wanted to set up RDP on my desktop to remote into when I'm at school. I thought it would be pretty straight-forward, but I'm having an issue that I can't quite figure out.

So, from the Remote tab of the System Properties dialog, I have "Allow Remote Assistance" ticked, and "Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop" blah blah.

Then I hit Select Users to add my user account from my laptop, except when I push the Locations button, the only location that is available is my desktop PC. I (maybe wrongfully?) assumed that I would be able to select any location on my network or something. If it makes any difference, my desktop is running Win7 Ultimate x64 and the laptop is running Win8.1 Home x64.

Here's what I mean:

Any ideas what the problem is? Thanks in advance!

 

[Tookeri]

Not really my area, but even for remote access you'll need to log in with a local account. Logging in remotely or locally is basically the same thing, but for remote desktop you can choose which accounts are allowed to be used. From your screenshots, the top middle, "Jonathan already has access".

Think of RDP like working locally but from a distance. When you use RDP and log in to your desktop you want the same desktop, icons and configuration as when you log in locally, right? Then you need to log in with the same account.

 

[strollin]

When you log in to your desktop from your laptop remotely, you will still log in with the same local user account as Tookeri already said.

RDP is different than Remote Assistance, so for what you want to do, you needn't check the "Allow Remote Assistance connections..." box. Remote Assistance is a temporary (one-time) invitation type thing.

I use RDP on a daily basis to connect to computers all over the country. The computers I connect to are all on my company's intra-net so it works very well. I find using RDP for connecting to computers that aren't on the same intra-net to be too much of a hassle.

For what you want to do, I would recommend TeamViewer, it's free for personal use and connecting from your lappy to your desktop is much easier than RDP.