Remote Desktop

Hi,

I set up remote desktop linking on my windows xp pro computer, because I want to link to it to use programs in my web class in school. I wanted to test it out on my windows xp home computer but i get an error saying its busy.

The two pcs are connected to the same internet by a router, so I was thinking that is the problem, but I want to be sure before I go to school tommarow.

Edit: The computers also obviosly have the same IP address, I think thats what the problem is?

 

On XP Pro computer: Start -> My Computer, right click, choose Properties. Choose Remote tab. Is Allow users to connect remotely to this computer checked?

Two computers on the same router/switch should not have the same IP address without you getting an error regarding it, regardless of Remote Desktop.

 

Ya, it is.

 

Does the XP Pro machine have a user account with a password?

 

Yes.

 

What firewalls are on the computers?

 

hmm, none on the home edition. I think norton firewall on the pro edition. Btw I opened a the port microsoft had on there faq in my routers settings, but it didnt do anything.

 

If they are both behind the router, there is no point in opening a port on the router.

Open port 3389 for RD through the firewall though.

 

Try hard-coding a unique private IP address and subnet into each of your machines (e.g. 192.168.0.5, subnet 255.255.255.0, and 192.168.0.6, same subnet into the other.)

Remote Desktop works for me, and here's what I can tell you:
I have four Pro machines that I can login to remotely, all hooked up to the same router. They have each had their RDP listening port modified in the registry to a unique number. Each machine has it's LAN IP address hard-coded so that each RDP listening port can be mapped in the router to that specific LAN IP address.

If all you want to do is login remotely to your one machine, it would be best to hard code the LAN IP so you can map to it in your router, rather than take a chance that the router's DHCP server will assign it a different address if you happen to re-boot your two machines. You may also wish to change the listening port as I did-- even though you have only one machine-- away from the standard port, which is 3389, for security reasons. To login remotely using a non-standard port, you would need to specify it after the IP address in the RDP client login (e.g. xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:XXXX).

 

It didnt work.

 

Then turn off the firewall.

 

TheDoug: I don't really understand, heh. I don't know how to hard-encode a unique private ip address and subnet, would that be in my router setup?

Adrynalyne: I turned it off, but it's still giving the same error.

Really, If its a problem with the router getting in the way I don't mind. I just want to make sure it worked before trying the computer in school and finding out it didn't. The computer's the school has are also xp professional.

 

In the XP Pro machine's Control Panel -> Network Connections -> Local Area Connection, right-click, choose Properties -> highlight Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and press Properties. Select Use the following IP address, and enter the information. (The Default Gateway would be your router's IP address-- most likely 192.168.0.1, so don't make the computer's IP address the same.)

 

Ok, but how would I know what to put in for the address?

 

Something other than your router's IP address, which I surmise to be 192.168.0.1, or something similar. The first three numbers have to be the same, so 192.168.0.x. I would make "x" something between 5 and 10, and make the subnet mask 255.255.255.0. What brand is your router?

 

It's a linksys

EDIT: I made my ip to 192.168.0.5 but then my interenet wouldnt work so I changed it back.

 

Linksys uses 192.168.1.1 for it's router default. You would, in that case, need to use 192.168.1.x

Bear in mind that what I'm talking about is to make sure you can connect successfully across the internet and thru your router to the XP Pro machine. If you continue to have problems connecting to it via RDP across your LAN, there is a problem at the machine level that needs eliminating.

 

I must be doing something wrong. I still couldn't connect with the ip address.

EDIT: Maybe using different numbers for the last one would work? And there is also a Defualt Gateway that I am leaving blank.

 

You should make Default Gateway-- as I said-- the IP of your router:192.168.1.1. You can safely make the last number of the IP anywhere from 4 to 99, as this will eliminate possible conflict if your XP Home machine has been assigned an IP of 192.168.1.2 or .3 by the router.

 

Damn, sorry about that I was reading it quickly. Hah, thats embarrising. Anyway, Im on the interenet, but its not working. My other computer should i set the ip address as well?

 

Not necessary. If your XP Pro machine now has a permanent IP address, and it's connecting to the internet OK, all that remains is to figure out why it's not allowing RDP connections to it.

 

Damn...I set my other one but it wont connect to the internet...

O, I did it the other way around... My home has the static address...
Also, I do have 2 other pcs connected to the router is that maybe the problem.?

 

im tryin to set my xp pro to a deferent one, then when i set it back the connection is still not working...

 

Here's exactly what i did.
I enbled remote desktop on my pro machine. then i went into the cmd promt and found my ip address. No i came over to my home pc and opened up remote desktop and typed in my pro xp's ip address. then i get the error.

EDIT: Ok I was able to set the pro one to 192.168.1.101 and connect to the internet.

 

So, now, what happens when you go to All Programs -> Accessories -> Communications -> Remote Desktop Connection and type in 192.168.1.101 from your other computer?

 

I still get the same error. I saw in another forum to make sure the Terminal Services is started and it is.

 

If all firewalls are disabled on both the Pro machine and the one you are trying to access it from, I'm stumped. On the Pro machine, in the Remote Select Users settings, is there a line about a username that already has access underneath the window where allowed users would be added?

 

No there is not already a user added, this could be the porblem? How can I add one I dont understand it?

EDIT: I added my user name : Nick but it dont work still

 

But where you added it, did it say "Nick already has access" right above the Add button?

 

Ya, because I was logged on to do it. Maybe it will work at my school, it might just be the router issue. I saw a thing where it was the linksys firmware that was the problem or something...

 

Didn't work in school either.

 

Can anybody help me. I can give you any information you need, I really have no idea why I can't get this to work.