Remote Desktop - Need help setting up

[ColemontHD]

Ok guys. This may sound a little strange, but this is the setup I have at home. I have the following:

1 Toshiba Laptop
1 Dell GX260 Desktop(no monitor)
Both have Windows Xp Pro
Linksys Router

I am trying to use a program internally to connect from the laptop to the desktop, instead of using Logmein.com(which is what I am using now). Someone suggested using Remote Desktop, but I can't seem to get it setup correctly. Do I need to set something up on the desktop to make this work? Do I need to setup VPN?

 

[nweaver]

no


you need to make sure your user has a password, and turn it on from the system properties screen. Then you just connect from the laptop.

 

[ColemontHD]

turn what on and where?

 

[ColemontHD]

Originally posted by: ColemontHD
turn what on and where?

Got it to work! Thanks a bunch man! Also, is there a way I can do a remote desktop here from work using my ISP address and the router? Do I need to forward a port on the router to that desktop?

 

[WobbleWobble]

Yes, you need to forward the port on your router. The default port for RDP is 3389.

 

[ColemontHD]

After forwarding the port, do I need to restart the desktop that I am logging in to?

 

[WobbleWobble]

No, but you may need to restart your router.

 

[ColemontHD]

I did the forward, saved it, tried logging in from here and its not working. Is there something on the router I missed?

 

[ColemontHD]

Firewall on my router is turn off, firewall on desktop has that port open. Any ideas?

 

[ColemontHD]

Could it be my cable modem itself?

 

[Tarrant64]

You may want to keep the firewall on your router turned on. For security reasons, of course.

You would most likely have to do as Wobble said, reboot your router. I am using a Dlink, and I have to reboot mine. If you aren't able to login to your router from home(I think some have the option for remote login?), you probably will have to wait until you get home. If you have remote desktop enabled I thought Windows Firewall would already adjust to that setting and forward those ports needed.

So the quick list goes:
1. Check and make sure you enabled Remote Desktop Connection (seems you've done this already).
2. Port forward for remote desktop on the router.
3. Reboot router if needed(seems so).


As far as the coworking mentioning VPN. I think that comes in handy if you have a network such as file shares, etc...You can use VPN to connect to that network in general and have access as if you were on your router/switch at home.

 

[nweaver]

are you connecting to the LAN IP (usually 192.168.x.x) or the WAN ip (www.whatsmyip.org to find it)

 

[ColemontHD]

I am using the ISP address. In the router, I have port 3389 forwarded to 192.168.1.102 which is the "desktops" ip address from the router. Firewall is turned off on the router, firewall is now enabled on the desktop with the proper exceptions, and still nothing. Any ideas?

 

[WobbleWobble]

What firewall do you have on your desktop? As Tarrant64 said, if you're using the XP firewall, RDP automatically gets access. If you're using something else, you may need to open that port on your desktop as well.

 

[ColemontHD]

It is windows firewall

 

[Tarrant64]

If it's the windows firewall, the problem is somewhere with the router.

Be sure that you have the correct ISP address(www.whatsmyip.org). Please, don't post your IP.

 

[ojai00]

If everything is working internally within your network (you can access your desktop using Remote Desktop from your laptop) and you believe you have all the right settings, chances are your company firewall could be blocking this outgoing connection.

To test that theory, try accessing your home computer from a friend's computer.

Verify that you have enabled TCP and UDP for your port forwarding rule. You should enable the firewall on your router for security purposes. As long as you have the port forwarding rule on you should be able to get through the router on port 3389. You can also try disabling Windows Firewall.

 

[ColemontHD]

My company isnt blocking 3389, we us remote desktop all the time. My co worker connected to his just fine at home.

 

[JackMDS]

Are you trying to connect from the Internet or you are just trying the Intrenet address from within the LAN.

Many Ebrty Level Routers are not capable to go out form the LAN to the Internet and come back to same LAN using the same connection.

 

[ColemontHD]

What are you even talking about. Here I will lay it out:

Work PC

Open Remote Desktop(put in IP, password and what not)

Hit connect

It travels via the internet to my IP address.

Router(port 3389 is forwarded to 192.168.1.102)

Desktop(192.168.1.102)

 

[skyking]

have you tried from anywhere else? I sent you a PM.

 

[ColemontHD]

Why would I try from anywhere else? It worked for my co worker, so its not blocked at work.

 

[skyking]

IF you can get some help, you can work both ends of the problem in real time.

 

[Zap]

You can still connect to it from your laptop at home?

Make your desktop IP address static and set it (temporarily) to DMZ in your broadband router. Double check your router's internet IP address. Try connecting from somewhere else. If it still does not work from "work" then try at your friend's house. Why should you do this? Well, it's the basics of troubleshooting. You are trying to narrow down the field so to speak. Find out what works and what doesn't. Just because other people can connect elsewhere from your work doesn't automatically mean that you can. It may be a routing issue or something.

Something else is are you on a DSL connection? If your DSL modem does the PPPoE login, then it will log out when the line is inactive. If the broadband router does the login, then usually it will stay logged in.

Something else is to try pinging your router (make sure it is set to respond to ICMP pings).

 

[ColemontHD]

Yes, I am actually posting from the desktop via RDP from the laptop.

Also, if I upgrade to gigabit ethernet in my home network, will it make internal network RDP connect faster?