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

 

[MHS EXPERT]

i done this sittings but my problem is not solve i cant uderstand y its says incorrect user name or password

 

[Brink]

You never directly answered the question below to help clarify if this was done as well.

Are you using an user name and password of an account created on the remote PC to log in with?

 

[MHS EXPERT]

see this pic

 

[MHS EXPERT]

You never directly answered the question below to help clarify if this was done as well.

Are you using an user name and password of an account created on the remote PC to log in with?

yes

 

[Brink]

Double check through the posts at the link below to see if any may apply to you as well.

Solved Remote Desktop, Username or Password incorrect

 

[MHS EXPERT]

problem not solve hey im connect to remote pc by xp mode and its connect then y it is not connecting in win 7 to win 7
i

 

[Brink]

I'm afraid that I'm at a loss as well for why.

 

[MHS EXPERT]

its ok

 

[PCG]

I have one desktop and two laptops with Windows 8 Pro, and one work laptop with Windows 7 Pro.

I have successfully set up Remote Desktop Connections on and between all of these computers while inside my home and connected to my home network.

I have tried unsuccessfully using a neighbors wireless signal to RDC in from the internet to no avail.

I followed the instructions in this tutorial to enable RDC, including,

1. Port forwarding has been set up on my router to my desktop
2. Remote Desktop is allowed through the Windows Firewall (I'm not using third-party A/V).
3. And, the forwarded port is enabled in Incoming Rules section of the Advanced Settings

What am I missing here?

 

[PCG]

24 hours and no replies...

After reading more in to this, I came across several (mostly positive) references to the Free version of TeamViewer and decided to give it a try instead of Windows RDC.

I have it loaded on all three laptops and my desktop, and it seems to be a fantastic app. It even has a small Windows 8 shortcut tab that's pretty cool.

I have some international business trips coming up soon, and will test it out from a few different countries.

I would still like to give RDC a try if some one here could point me in the right direction.

Thank you

 

[UsernameIssues]

~~~
I would still like to give RDC a try if some one here could point me in the right direction.

Thank you

I cannot speak your Windows 8 RDC issue, but I hope that you have a really good password selected and that you change it often. There are lots of automated scanning tools looking for ports that respond to connections for RDC, VNC and other such tools.

I suggest that you stick with TeamViewer and you might want to install LogMeIn Free as a backup. I've had TeamViewer not respond before. It is always best to have at least two ways into system.

 

[PCG]

I cannot speak your Windows 8 RDC issue, but I hope that you have a really good password selected and that you change it often. There are lots of automated scanning tools looking for ports that respond to connections for RDC, VNC and other such tools.

I suggest that you stick with TeamViewer and you might want to install LogMeIn Free as a backup. I've had TeamViewer not respond before. It is always best to have at least two ways into system.

Thank you UsernameIssues. For now, I disabled all RDC and remote assistance capabilities on all machines, removed port forwarding and buttoned down all three firewalls. I'm gonna give TeamViewer a try.

Do the security issues you refer to about automated scanning tools apply to TV as well, or is that more centered on RDC when port forwarding is enabled?

 

[UsernameIssues]

TeamViewer's default settings uses a better method of protecting you than Microsoft's default settings do. RDC is fine inside a network - I just would not expose it to the internet.

Visit this website:
TeamViewer Security
Download the Security Statement PDF on the right hand side of that page.

Or use this direct link to that PDF:
http://www.teamviewer.com/images/pdf/TeamViewer_SecurityStatement.pdf

Of particular interest is this from page 5:
As a defence against brute force attacks, TeamViewer exponentially increases the latency between the
connection attempts. For 24 attempts it already takes 17 hours. The latency is only reset after successfully entering the correct password.
TeamViewer does not only have a mechanism in place to protect its customers from attacks from one
specific computer, but also from multiple computers known as Botnet attacks, trying to access one
particular TeamViewer-ID.

LogMeIn has a different security model. I suggest adding the personal password to the connection process. You will need to know the username and password for the account (just like you were sitting at the computer) plus you need to know the personal password. Once you try that personal password, you will see why it cannot (as far as I know) be cracked via brute-force.

 

[rdwray]

Question on this: "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"

In order to use this port number, the IP address has to be static or they will change via DHCP, how is this accomplished and still be able to receive a address via my internet host?

 

[UsernameIssues]

The free version of the Hamachi VPN tool ends the VPN connection if the remote computer is locked. You can RDP to a remote computer using RDC, but once you disconnect, the remote computer will lock and the VPN will not be available for subsequent connections.

The info/video in this post...
http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...te-desktop-keeps-reappearing.html#post2383610
...should show you how to work around that free version limitation. You still need a second tool (like TeamViewer or LogMeIn free) to connect to the remote computer, but RDC is just better at some things than other remote admin tools.

 

[betaupsilon]

Regarding WIN7 HOME to host a REMOTE DESKTOP CONNECTION:

All of MS literature says it cannot be done & your website indicates it can via 3rd party software, but I stumbled onto this @ answers.microsoft.com:

Simply change the fDenyTSConnections value in the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server” hive to “0” from “1” and you can RDP into the system. One has always been able to do this. The options available in the UI reflect which editions include support for the feature. You can enable RDP on Home if you wish, it just isn’t supported.

One can also set the UserAuthentication value to 1 in the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp” to require NLA if you wish.

Is this BOGUS? I have attempted it & no luck. Maybe I am missing something?

 

[Satyricon]

Hi. I didnt find the official site-info at microsoft answering my questions:


Can I setup this RDC ? Or does it not support different os-versions?

1. client computer = runs Windows 7 Pro
2. the host /target = runs windows 8.1

I want to use the windows7 computer at work,when travelling etc and connect to the win 8.1 machine!
And what about vpn/proxy ? does it support this?

 

[betaupsilon]

Hi. I didnt find the official site-info at microsoft answering my questions:


Can I setup this RDC ? Or does it not support different os-versions?

1. client computer = runs Windows 7 Pro
2. the host /target = runs windows 8.1

I want to use the windows7 computer at work,when travelling etc and connect to the win 8.1 machine!
And what about vpn/proxy ? does it support this?

Based on what I found it is the HOME edition OS that cannot host without 3rd party software. I do not know about WIN 8.1. However, I was able to get WIN 7 HOME to be the host using ULTRAVNC:
UltraVNC VNC Remote Support Software Desktop Control Free Opensource

The documentation is poor, but YOUTUBE has some tutorials in setting it up.

 

[Satyricon]

Thanks..

I also found out that Windows 8.1 "home" cannot host RDC.
I have a win7 PRO laptop that can, but i need it the other way..

Win 8.1 is available to upgrade I believe..?