RDC Win 7 to XP

[imhooks]

Alright guys/gals. I have been tearing my brain and possibly computers up trying to set up remote connection to my desktop running winXP from my laptop. Laptop is running win7. Wireless router with port forwarding enabled for 3389. Firewall also is open at port 3389. Under remote tab in computer properties, I have checked the "allow users to share...". I have tried to type the name of the computer "i.e. DESKTOP" and the IP address to connect, but to no avail. It gives me the failure dialog with the 3 reasons why it possibly couldnt connect. It seems so straightforward in all the reading I have seen regarding this process. But it's never that easy for me. It's always something im missing.

At one point I did get my "DESKTOP" to show up in the "network map" on win7 at the bottom of the screen, but when I double clicked it, it just pulled a seperate browser window open, and never connected. Since then the desktop icon is gone, and im left with the laptop icon>to a question mark saying unkown>then to the router>then to the internet icon. What in the world have I done?

Can anyone think of what might be holding me back? Im running on a static IP, with wireless laptop. Desktop connected directly to router.

Thanks for any help.
-Adam

 

[acurasd]

Here is the thing...
The only reason you need Port Forwarding is if you are going to Remote Connect outside your system. All you need is your IP address, per computer.

If you plan to remote to each computer in the network. You will have to change the port on one of the computer to a different number.

Like One will be : 3389 and the other will be 3388, then you would have to port forward.

Are your computers set up with static IP, that always helps too.

Also, under your system properties , remote tab, is it enabled.