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

 

[MrCmonster]

Hi everyone,

I'm having an odd issue with RDP. I have two computers with Windows 7 Ultimate on each. I can remote in ONCE from one computer to the other, but when I disconnect I have to go to the other computer and manually reboot before I can connect again. Does anyone have any idea what might be going on?

I'm running ZoneAlarm Antivirus 2010 on both PCs if that matters.

Thanks!

 

[Jonathan_King]

Welcome Mr Cmonster!

It sounds like a firewall/antivirus is causing the issue here. I suggest disabling ZA on your host machine for the time being.

 

[aw22]

when I try remote access to my PC with my other PC it dont let. I tryed to access with my IP

 

[Jonathan_King]

What OS are both of them? Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate?

 

[aw22]

PC OS what i use is Win7 Ultimate 64bit and that other PC OS is WinXP Pro SP3 32bit
I was wondering, can i somehow start up my PC by remote? I really would like it so, if im not home and my PC is off, I can start up PC by remote. IS it possible so?

 

[Jonathan_King]

PC OS what i use is Win7 Ultimate 64bit and that other PC OS is WinXP Pro SP3 32bit
I was wondering, can i somehow start up my PC by remote? I really would like it so, if im not home and my PC is off, I can start up PC by remote. IS it possible so?

You can use a Wake on LAN client for that. Here is one I like: Depicus

If you need help setting it up, post in the networking section of this forum, and someone will walk you through it.

PM or VM me with a link to your thread, and if no one else responds first, I'll do it.

 

[cyki]

Hello, I have two computers, corporate notebook which is in domain, microsoft exchange service is on our netowrk and the second one, presonal, is Mac with RDC OSX (or virtual machine with win). I have connected Mac to the notebook via LAN. Questions is, if it is possible to connect from Mac to the corporate notebook outside of company. Thank you !!

 

[pasoon]

bluetooth problem

hai guys!!

I have problem to turn my sony vaio PCG-7192l's bluetooth, of coures I clik on bluetooth key in start menue but automaticlay is dispeared, and while I want to try send some thing just face that " make sure your blutooth is turned on" some thing like that.

 

[Ozark]

I found this solution for Home Premium editions and below: Enable Remote Desktop Connection In Windows 7 Home Premium
From this forum: Windows 7 Home Premium - Remote Desktop

LET ME SAY I HAVE NOT TRIED IT SO I CANNOT VERIFY THAT IT IS OK. Maybe someone else that is far smarter than I can comment?

Why the hell would MS NOT have the ability to connect to all PC's remotely? It is so stupid and I would not have bought the OS version if I had of known. The joys of buying a PC and then spending days and weeks to get it working like the old one...

John

 

[Ozark]

I have just got off the phone with MS support and they have confirmed that you cannot remotely log in to your PC if you have Home Premium. You casn upgrade to a higher version for the steal of a price of $179 Australian. That is a damn joke. I am not a happy camper....

 

[Jonathan_King]

I suggest the free alternative TeamViewer.

TeamViewer - Free Remote Access and Remote Desktop Sharing over the Internet

It's not quite the same, but once you get to know it, it works okay for remote desktop.

 

[yousaf465]

How to use remote desktop b etween a win7 and win xp ?

 

[Ozark]

How to use remote desktop b etween a win7 and win xp ?

Read my reply, it worked for me with the download. What version of XP do you have? Again my reply tells you what does and does not work.

 

[Zain]

Hi

I cant seem to be able to remote desktop to an XP SP3 machine from my Windows 7 pro desktop. My colleague who has an XP SP3 desktop can remote desktop fine to the other XP SP3 machine.

Can i get some help on this please?

Thanks

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hi

I cant seem to be able to remote desktop to an XP SP3 machine from my Windows 7 pro desktop. My colleague who has an XP SP3 desktop can remote desktop fine to the other XP SP3 machine.

Can i get some help on this please?

Thanks

Hello Zain,

Make sure any firewalls on your client are disabled.

 

[yousaf465]

I tried teamviewer as recommended by Jonathan_King and it worked like a charm no hassle. You just have to share the id and password and it works. I even tried between mac and xp both worked perfectly.

 

[xTL]

this thread is perfect for my question


is there a way to change the target location like in my 3rd picture, so it don't start like the 2nd picture, but it start right away, like it would after i pressed the " Connect with Remote Desktop Connection, in my 1st picture ?

Appreciate all the help i can get

 

[Jonathan_King]

this thread is perfect for my question


is there a way to change the target location like in my 3rd picture, so it don't start like the 2nd picture, but it start right away, like it would after i pressed the " Connect with Remote Desktop Connection, in my 1st picture ?

Appreciate all the help i can get

Have you tried this?

 

[xTL]

Jonathan_King, thank you for pointing out that im obviously blind =D

ofcorz thats how you do it =), well i guess hours and hours of searching google, sitting and clicking settings trying diffrent stuff, makes one blind ^^..

Thx +rep

 

[ericsene]

I'm having the same problem described below. My host machine is running Win7 Pro 32Bit, and I'm able to connect to it from WITHIN my home network using a laptop running Vista Home Premium, but cannot for the life of me connect from outside my home. I'm attempting to connect to my home PC (Win7 Pro) from my office. My office PC is running WinXP PRO SP3. I've forwarded ports through my router and beleive everything is configured accordingly.

I'm having exactly the same problem. My laptop is 7 Ultimate and the desktop is 7 Pro. I disabled Kaspersky firewall on both thinking it might be a trusted zone thing, but still won't work through the router. Has anyone figure this out yet?

Thanks.

Yup, port 3389 is forwarding to the PC with Win7, and the PC with Win7 is accepting RDC automatically...

I beleive that the PC with Win7 is properly configured because I can use RDC from my laptop (WinXP) to connect to it if I input the Win7's local IP address to connect to...

so this works:

Laptop ---->LAN-----> Win7

but this doesnt:

Laptop----->Internet----->Router------>Win7