Remote desktop

[peanut]

I'm trying to use remote desktop. The computer i'm trying to access is running XP Pro. Everything on the XP Pro computer is installed and properly configured to run remote desktop. Can someone please tell me what i need to do with the computer im using to access this computer? In other words, if i was trying to access my computer at home from a computer at a friends house what do i need to do.

[Ethel]

This seems to be a good explanation:

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto -14.html

[vehelpfulguy]

You cannot do this from XP Home, only XP Pro.

Home can be the slave but not the master.

Search the Windows help for remote desktop.

[peanut]

yes the computer im trying to access is running pro and the computer im using to access the pro machine runs xp home. Ive been through the help menu but it doesnt seem to help me. If im using the same internet connection it works, but if im not at home it does not work. am i missing something?

[rojash]

If you're not at home, you will need to access the remote computer via its IP address, so it needs a fixed IP address. If the remote computer is connected to the web via router with a built-in firewall, you will need to ensure that you have configured the router and firewall to let you in.

[peanut]

How do i find the ip address? I did ipconfig but that only tells me the address of the router. How do i get a fixed ip? and do i need to disable the router firewall to gain access? Im not sure how to make an exception on the router firewall if i dont plan to use the same computer every time i want to access this one remotely. Last, do you just put the ip address in the address bar in internet explorer just like a web address? sorry bout the barrage of questions.

[rojash]

Everything that is connected to the internet has a unique IP address. Ultimately, the only way you can address a resource is via its IP address. This can be done manually (if you know the IP address of a website, you can access it that way) or automatically. For example if you type in a URL, this will be looked up on a DNS server and translated into the IP address.

So if you want to connect to your computer over the internet, you will need to know the IP address it uses when connecting to the internet. Most domestic internet accounts don't have a fixed IP address, but one that is assigned automatically by their ISP when they connect. To guarantee that you have a the same IP address every time you connect, you need to purchase from your ISP a static address. This will be absolutely unique to you, and therefore will allow access to your machine from anywhere else on the internet.

Once you have your static IP address, you will need to set the router to allow a passthrough of the appropriate port for Terminal services.

Then, when you are running Remote Desktop Client from anywhere on the Internet, you put in the IP address of the computer or router you are trying to contact.

[rojash]

Your router at home recognises the request from the client and passes it to the port which is being monitored by the remote desktop software on you computer at home. This then authenticates the connection (using the username and password), and responds.

[rojash]

I should have mentioned that if you purchase a static IP address, you ISP will let you know what it is!

Have a look at this page, and scroll down to the bit about configuring your router:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/netwo rking/expert/northrup_03may16.mspx

[peanut]

Perfect explanation rojash thank you and everyone else too.