Setting up a Remote Desktop

Here’s a great tip for windows users…
Submitted by Pablo of Free Cooking Videos

Did you ever wish you didn’t have to swicth from one computer to the other on your home network to access different programs? Sure you can transfer files across the network, using shared drives and such, but sometimes you need to run the program on the remote computer, or you may have a favorite saved there that you can’t remember. My goal was just to not have to enter my cluttered office and to be able to watch NFL games while computing….

Solution: Remote Desktop. (Built in to Windows XP)
This solution will allow you to view your remote computer as if you are sitting in front of it. You can even map resources like drives and printers.

Step 1. Start your remote computer (The computer you wish to connect to)

Step 2. You must enable Remote Desktop on this computer – From your desktop or the Start menu, Right click on “My Computer” and select Properties|Remote put a check box in “allow users to connect remotely to this computer”. Your firewall settings may need to be set to allow this. For Microsoft firewall, make sure Don’t allow exemptions is not checked. Other firewalls like Norton’s will pop up when remote desktop is started and give you a choice of how to handle it. Select to permit and check always use this action.

Step 3. Launch remote desktop on the computer you will be using to connect to the remote computer. Start|All Programs|Accessories|Communications|Remote Desktop Connection

Step 4. Type in your user name and password of the remote computer. Click Connect. That’s it ! You will now see the desktop of the remote computer as if you are sitting in front of the computer.

If you want to map your local drives to the remote computer so you can transfer files easily, Click on the Options Tab before logging in and select Local resources, then check boxes of the resources you wish to connect. Check out the other Tabs for more options, they are pretty self explanatory.

Check out this link for more detailed information.

You can also do this across the Web , but it is a bit more involved, especially if you are dealing with firewalls. Here is a link to help get you started.

Thanks Pablo!

Tags: remote desktop, windows, laptop, wireless, remote office, home office, work at home

Category: Work at Home