Remote Desktop: Access Computers on Your Network

Remote Access to Networked Computers with Windows Remote Desktop

For those managing a home or small office network comprising multiple computers, the ability to access and control them from a single machine can be invaluable. This article details the Remote Desktop functionality built into Windows, enabling connections to computers running XP, Vista, and Windows 7. It's important to note that Remote Desktop is not available as a host feature in the Home editions of Windows.

Enabling Remote Desktop on Vista and Windows 7

The initial step involves activating Remote Desktop on your Windows 7 or Vista system. Begin by right-clicking the 'Computer' icon, accessible either on the desktop or through the Start menu, and selecting 'Properties'. Subsequently, click the link labeled 'Advanced system settings'.

Within the 'System Properties' window, navigate to the 'Remote' tab. Under the 'Remote Desktop' section, select the radio button indicating “Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (more secure)”. This option enhances security during remote connections.

You can also specify which user accounts on the network are permitted to establish Remote Desktop access. This provides granular control over who can connect to the machine.

Enabling Remote Desktop on Windows XP

The process for enabling Remote Desktop on Windows XP is largely similar. Right-click on 'My Computer' and select 'Properties'. Then, click the 'Remote' tab and check the box labeled 'Allow users to connect remotely to this computer'.

Initiating a Remote Desktop Connection

Once enabled, you can remotely access the computers on your network. Launch the Remote Desktop Connection application and enter either the computer's name or its IP address. This allows you to connect to machines in different locations without physically being present.

The first connection attempt may trigger a security alert, which you should allow. You can also choose to suppress this alert for future connections.

You will be prompted to enter the username and password associated with an account on the remote computer before the connection is established.

Successfully logging in grants you full control of the remote desktop, as if you were physically seated at that machine.

The login process for Vista machines is identical – simply enter the appropriate username and password.

Once authenticated, you can begin working on the remote Vista machine.

Connecting to an XP computer from a Windows 7 machine will also present a security message. You can choose to prevent this message from appearing on subsequent connections.

You can then proceed to work on the XP laptop remotely.

Remote Desktop Options

Before initiating a remote session, you can adjust various options to optimize the experience. Experimenting with these settings is recommended to find the configuration that best suits your needs. Reducing the display size and color depth can improve performance, particularly on older hardware.

While connected remotely, the user at the remote computer will be locked out, preventing simultaneous access.

Therefore, ensure the local user is aware of your remote session to avoid accidental logouts.

Conclusion

It’s important to remember that Remote Desktop is not supported as a hosting feature in the Home editions of Windows XP, Vista, or 7. While connections *from* these editions are possible, establishing a remote connection *to* them is not. Alternative, free utilities and services are available for these scenarios, and we will explore those options in a future article. For IT professionals and users with Professional, Business, Enterprise, or Ultimate editions of Windows, Remote Desktop provides a powerful and convenient method for managing and accessing computers across a network.