How to use Remote Desktop?

Author: Abdul sattar

14 Aug

First thing is first, before Learning How to use Remote Desktop you should have a lucid idea about “What is Remote Desktop?”
What is a Remote Desktop?
Remote Desktop is a Desktop which is not in front of you besides which is located somewhere in a Remote Location.
Let’s assume that you are in a Restaurant with your laptop and you got a call from your boss that he needs the project files immediately and asked you to mail him. Unfortunately those files are present in your Desktop Pc which is at home. In this situation your desktop pc at home becomes a Remote Desktop for you. So, now you need software which can connect your laptop to your home pc via web. The software you require is none other than Remote Desktop which comes with XP Pro, SP1, SP2, SP3 and Vista. Unfortunately XP home doesn’t have Remote Desktop. So you don’t need to install the software externally by downloading it.

Procedure for Getting your Remote Computer Ready by Starting the Services
Step1. For Using Remote Desktop certain services need to be enabled.
Start>Control Panel>System and Security> Administrative Tools> Services
Start these services
Remote Access Auto connection Manager, Remote Access Connection Manager,
Routing and Remoting, Telnet, Terminal Services and Terminal Services Configuration.
Remember to start the services relating to Remote services Whether the OS is XP or Vista

Step2: Go to Command Prompt and type NET START to start the services
Start>Run>type cmd in the text box>type NETSTART in command prompt

Step3: Allowing Remote connections
Start>Right Click My Computer>Properties>Remote Tab> Tick on Allow Remote Connections and Remote Assistance

Things Needed for Remote Desktop:

1. IP address of the Host or Client or Remote Computer
2. Windows Logon Username and Password of the Remote System.

Remote Desktop can be used in Many Ways:

1.   How to use Remote Desktop in LAN
2.   How to use Remote Desktop in connecting a System Which is in WAN to a System which is in another WAN(consider that you have a system in WAN at your home and you want to connect to your friends system which is WAN at his home)(Remote Desktop Web Connection)
3.   How to use Remote Desktop in connecting a System Which is in LAN to a System which is in WAN(consider that your friend has three systems in LAN at his home and you have one system at your home which is in WAN and he wants to connect to connect from any one of the systems in LAN to your system)
4.   How to use Remote Desktop in connecting a System Which is in WAN to a System which is in LAN(consider that you have a system in WAN and you want to connect to any one of your friends system in LAN)

How to use Remote Desktop in LAN:

How to connect to a Remote Desktop in a LAN is the most repetitive question I got from my friends so I thought to post it.
It is the easiest task to implement when compared to Remote Desktop web access, Let’s consider that you have six systems in LAN at home. So you want to access the files of system5 from system1, so you want to connect to system5 remotely from system1. I suggest enabling the services in all the systems in LAN and following steps 1 to 3.

Now open the Remote Desktop

Path to Remote Desktop:
Start>Programs>Accessories>Communications>Remote Desktop

Your Remote Desktop Window is shown below

Now get the IP of the Remote Desktop or The Computer name and type in the combo box. If you want to have copy and paste option to be enabled or file sharing between these two system then click on options>”Local Resources” tab> Click on “More” button and tick on “Drives” an press “OK” button as shown in the picture and press “Connect” button in General tab.