This FAQ will cover in detail the process of creating a Remote Desktop connection to another PC on your network. Why would I want to do this you ask?? Simple. If you only have one monitor, mouse and keyboard but don't want to spring for an expensive KVM switch, you can use Remote Desktop. This is a feature built directly into Windows XP Professional. It is perfect for looking at a folding machine or 2nd desktop that you rarely use. I use it frequently when updating my servers through Windows Update.
Before starting, I will assume that you have already setup a home network between the two PC's. If you have not, just take a trip over to my
Home Networking FAQ to get that done.
I have attached screenshots at the end to help you with the settings if you are having trouble.
1. Okay, the first thing you need to do is create a new user account on the machine you wish to remote desktop into that is password protected. This step can be omitted if you don't use the default Administrator account to logon to your machine. Just skip to step 2. I use the Local User Snap-In. This is accessed by going to Start>run and typing "lusrmgr.msc" and pressing enter. Now you will right-click Users and choose "New User." Type in the requested information and make sure you deselect the "Change Password at next logon" choose "Password Never Expires." This will ensure that you will never forget the password for this account.
2. Now that you have created the account, open up the Users folder in the lusrmgr.msc snap-in and double-click the newly created account. There will be three tabs at the top. Choose the "Member Of" tab and it will show all of the groups that this account is a member of. You will need to make sure that the account is part of the Administrators group and the Remote Desktop Users group. Do this by clicking add>Advanced>Find Now> and choosing the groups you want to add to the account. You can hold down control if you want to select multiple groups. Click Okay when you are done and Okay until you are back to the snap-in. Close the snap-in.
3. Now you need to setup the computer to allow remote desktop connection to come into it. First open up "My Computer" click "System" and choose the "Remote" tab. From here you need to select "Allow Users to connect Remotely to this computer." This will open up the appropriate firewall ports, etc. Next click the "Select Remote Users" button. You will need to add your newly created account by clicking the "Add" button. Again, click "Advanced>Find Now"> and select the account. Click Okay until you are back to "My Computer."
4. Almost done. Now if you want the remote computer to be able to log itself on when you start it, you will need to set up Autologon from the registry. This is done by clicking start>run> type "regedit" and press enter. Now you will need to navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\Cu rrentVersion\Winlogon
inside this folder there will be a number of different keys. There are three that you need to be concerned with. The first is "DefaultUserName" which will hold a value equal to the user name you want to automatically log onto your computer with. You will need to add the next two. First right click the Winlogon folder and choose "New>String Value." Now you will name this value DefaultPassword and press enter. Double click the new value and type the accounts password in the value box. Now you will need to do that again, but this time name the value "AutoAdminLogon" double click it and type "1" in the value box. See the attached Picture if you are having trouble. Now you just need to reset the computer and make sure that it automatically logs on and everything starts up okay.
5. Now switch your monitor, keyboard and mouse over to the primary computer that you will always have the devices attached to. Once you are in Windows, simply click Start>All Programs>Accessories> and choose Remote Desktop. It will open a dialog box where you need to enter the IP address or computer name of the remote computer. Click connect and another Window will open and request a password. Make sure that the user name of the account you previously created is in the box, enter the password and press enter. You will now be sitting at the desktop of your other computer. Everything will function as normal. The only thing that is different is the way the computer shutsdown. You can't just click start>turnoff computer, you will need to choose Start>Windows Security and use the toolbar on the taskmanager to shutdown the remote PC. Don't try to use CTRL+ALT+DEL to shut it down, because you will shutdown your primary PC. You can also resize the remote Window so you can still work on your primary PC while you are logged onto the secondary PC. When you are finished just click disconnect and you are done.
Hope this guide is helpful to everyone who has folding machines, servers or whatever and need to remotely manage them. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask! Enjoy!
How to: Create a Remote Desktop Connection
08-19-05
How to: Create a Remote Desktop Connection
