Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) - Network

How to Enable Windows to Make and Accept a Remote Desktop Connection​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to enable Remote Desktop Connection, and to connect remotely in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

   Warning

While all editions of Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 can be a remote desktop client...

• Only the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions can host a remote desktop connection.
• Only the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions can host a remote desktop connection.
• Only the Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise editions can host a remote desktop connection.

FIRST

To Enable Remote Connection

1. Go to Control Panel>System>Advanced System Settings

2. Go to Remote tab.

3. Under Remote Assistance, put a check mark on Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.
Note: This automatically adds Remote Desktop exception to Windows Firewall.

4. Click on Apply.

OPTION ONE

To Connect to a Remote Desktop (Local Area Connectivity)

1. Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>Remote Desktop Connection
NOTE: You could also press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type mstsc.exe, and press Enter.

2. Enter the Computer Name or IP address of the computer you wish to connect to.

3. For more connection options, click on Options
NOTE: Here you can save the connection profile, adjust display properties, run specified programs upon connection, adjust connection bandwidth, etc. For more information on specific tabs, click on Help.

4. Click on Connect.

5. Enter your log in credentials of a user account on the remote computer that is allowed to do a remote desktop connection.

OPTION TWO

Enable Windows to Accept Remote Desktop Connection (Local Area Connectivity)

1. Go to Control Panel>System>Advanced System Settings

2. Go to Remote tab.

3. Under Remote Assistance, put a check mark on Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer
Note: This automatically adds Remote Desktop exception in Windows Firewall.

4. Click on Advanced...

5. Put a check mark on Allow this computer to be controlled remotely.

6. Click on OK.
Note: This automatically adds Remote Assistance exception in Windows Firewall.

7. Remote Desktop Connection behind a router (Single computer)
A) Configure your router's port forwarding to allow connections on port 3389
B) Now in RDC just type the IP address supplied by your ISP
8. Remote Desktop Connection behind a router (Multiple computers)
A) For each computer you want to remotely connect to you have to configure each computer to listen to different ports to avoid port conflicts by changing the registry key in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\PortNumber

B) Port Numbers are in Decimal format
Note: To avoid conflict with other programs it is suggested to select a port between 49152 and 65535.

C) Now take that number you've chosen your computer to listen to and configure your router to port forward to that number

D) To connect to that computer your format will now be ISPIPAddressortNumber (ex. 222.222.2.8:1234) to connect to that specific computer behind the router
Important: If you have a firewall software running, that too has to be configured to allow communication to the port you opened in your router as well.

Note: The above steps assumes that you're not part of a domain.

Related Tutorials

---

• Windows 7: RDP changes improve virtual desktop performance
• How to Create a Windows 7 Remote System Properties Shortcut
• How to Create a Windows 7 RemoteApp and Desktop Connections Shortcut
• How to Set Time Limit for Active Remote Desktop Sessions
• How to Set Time Limit for Idle Remote Desktop Sessions
• How to Terminate Remote Desktop Session when Active or Idle Time Limits are Reached
• How to Turn On or Off Automatic Log On for a Remote Desktop Connection
• Allow or Prevent Remote Desktop Connection Clients to Automatically Log On to Host Computer
• How to Create a "Remote Desktop Connection" Shortcut to a Specific Computer
• How to Create a "Remote Shutdown Dialog" Shortcut
• How to Reset and Clear Remote Desktop Connection History in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Delete Credentials of a Remote Desktop Connection in Windows 7 and Windows 8

 

[Jonathan_King]

How can I disable remote desktop.

Hello,

See the first post: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3922-remote-desktop-connection-rdc-network.html

Select "Don't allow connections to this computer".

 

[BartForcier]

Answered

I have Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit and set up all the above settings to allow remote access. When I try to access the machine (from an XP machine on the same in-house network or from my work XP Pro machine outside the network) I get the the login screen asking me to select the user and enter my PASSWORD. I selected the User and entered the Password that I use for a direct login on the win 7 machine and get a message that my password is incorrect. I am able to go directly to that Win 7 machine and log on locally using the same Password so, it cant be password related (yes i checked CAPS LOCK) and it cant be user name as I am clicking on the user avatar. Am I missing something in the setup?
Note: prior to win 7 machine, I had an XP machine and never had issues connecting remotely.

I have seen this question asked several times on different forums but no-one ever attempts to answer

I just realized that when I attempted the remote from work (XP) to home (WIN 7 ULTIMATE) I was using the old username so my options were to login as the old username (bart) or "Other User" I then realized that My username was different now.
I edited my rdc login info to reflect my new user name and it worked perfectly.

I really hate when us "Smart People" make silly mistakes like this. thank you all though!

 

[Jonathan_King]

Great, glad to hear it. No worries, we all miss things at times, many of which are more obvious than a user account with the same picture.

Let us know if you need anything else!

 

[sfrj]

hello, i am missing:

Where do i find it? When i use search, it cannot be located.

Please advise.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

Look in C:\Windows\system32, and see if mstsc.exe and mstscax.dllare there. If so, try opening mstsc.exe and see what happens.

 

[sfrj]

That worked, thanks a lot sir.

 

[aslwin]

I have the same problem

I am having problem RDC into Windows 7 Prof thru the web too


I have no problem RDC into Windows XP Professional (behind a router) thru the web. But when the Windows XP Professonal upgraded to Windows 7 Profesional, RDC thru the web does not work. It seems the PC is found but rejected right away.

Anti-virus (Microsoft Security Essential)
Firewall ( Microsoft Firewall)
Port Used - 3389
Router Linksys (port forward same as XP machine).

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

By default, Remote Desktop connections are disabled; make sure to enable it, as shown in the original post: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3922-remote-desktop-connection-rdc-network.html

 

[aslwin]

Windows 7 Remote Desktop on Web failed

In order to sort out the issue, I have 2 machines on my LAN, one with XP prof and another Windows 7 prof. Windows 7 prof Remote Desktop does not work outside of LAN.

The following has been configured and still failed with Windows 7 Remote Desktop :-
(a) Remote Desktop enable
(b) Port use default 3389
(c) Router forward 3389 port to specific computer
(d) Firewall (Microsoft) auto updated by (a) during enable - verified.
(e) No other anti-virus except Microsoft Security Essential

The followings have been done to verified condition
(1) A XP machine with Remote Desktop is functioning on the web
(1.1) Set up a machine with Windows XP prof, this machine with port forwarding setting in router, Windows firewall opened.
(1.2) This test concludes external IP is corrected
(1.3) Port forwarding in router is functioning

(2) The Windows 7 Prof machine with Remote Desktop working on LAN only

 

[Jonathan_King]

If you have two machines in the same LAN both hosting remote desktop sessions, they will need to be forwarded differently.

How are you handling the different incoming connections? Have you changed the port in the registry? Are you using a different incoming port and redirecting it to 3389 in the router?

 

[aslwin]

Must use VPN for Network as Workplace for Win 7 ?

I have setup the followings :-
(1) Set Registry to use 2 ports 3389, 50001
(2) Open Windows firewall for both 3389, 50001
(3) Router port forward 3389, 50001 to each specific Lan IP addresses
---------------------------------------
Still result, RDC works within LAN and outside LAN failed. Even calling External IP address from the LAN does not work either. But all these only happen to a RDC hosting machine using Windows 7 Professional, the machine using XP Professional has no problem doing RDC external from the web.

Here is something particular with Windows 7, I choose to setup my Network as WorkPlace - not Home. Microsoft might enforce user to do RDC with VPN. So I installed LogMein's VPN, and EVERYTHING WORKING. So here is my assumptiong running your network as Workplace, you must run VPN or do some Windows Registry.

 

[vogel]

Hi, i am new to this forum.
I found you because i have a little problem with remote desktop connections.
First of all, i have two pcs. Both with Win 7 Pro. One x86 and one x64.
I enabled remote connections on the x86 machine and configured the other one too.
Now i have the problem with the windows firewall on the client pc. When i generally allow all outgoing connections on the firewall i can create a remote connection.
But i want to generally deny all outgoing traffic and allow only that what i want.
So what do i have to do to get the remote stuff to work?

I allready allowed remotedesktop above the "firewall -> allow program -> remotedesktop" but that didnt worked.
Does anyone know which rules i need to allow in the advanced firewall window?

Both PCs are in the same LAN so there are is no portforwarding necessary.

Greetings

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

Make sure Port 3389 is open; it uses the TCP protocol, if it matters any.

 

[vogel]

Yeah exactly. thats it
Just create an outgoing rule that allows 3389 as TCP and it works even with whitelist mode

 

[IMAyNeed]

Cable Modem + Router
(Router added by me, wired connection even though the router is wireless).

There are 2 computer in the network, Home Premium and Ultimate.
Now another Ultimate will come.

My question is, What is the IP address supplied by the ISP?
I wasn't supplied any.
Is it the one that web pages see as my IP address starting with 7?

 

[Jonathan_King]

Your ISP won't tell you the IP it gives you. You can get it from the router, or you can go to a site such as whatsmyip.com.

 

[IMAyNeed]

Your ISP won't tell you the IP it gives you. You can get it from the router, or you can go to a site such as whatsmyip.com.

I just got confused by the words "IP Address supplied by the ISP".
Thanks for your reply.

 

[Jonathan_King]

You're welcome, glad I could help.

 

[williadl]

Have been trying to Remote desktop from my xp machine to my Win7 Enterprise machine. I get the login scree, login and see the desktop, but immediate disconnect from remote and logged off of local login. Anyone have any ideas. Just starting to use Win 7. My xp machine remotes to my 2003 and 2008 servers just fine.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hello,

I've found this article: BUG: Remote Desktop session is disconnected with protocol error if Remote Control is used on a Windows Server 2008-based computer

Give that a try, see if that helps anything.

You might also try installing SP1, if you haven't done so already: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/learn-how-to-install-windows-7-service-pack-1-sp1