Remote Desktop for Dummies

This is an extensive guide for remote desktop using the Windows OS and DynDNS. This article should be everything you need in order to remotely use your computer. This article is co-written by Andrew McGinnis from Uniform Solutions and we hope to cover everything that you need to remotely use your computer.

Introduction
Windows XP Professional includes a hosting utility called Remote Desktop that can be used by the PC in your remote location to enable access to all of your applications from any PC with Windows XP (Home or Professional) and an internet connection. Remote Desktop is an absolutely fantastic utility that once setup at the host location, is easy to use and gives you the freedom to work from anywhere – just like you were at your store.

Summary of Requirements
1. The main component would be a high speed internet which would give you steady internet. This is absolutely necessary. If you have dial-up, don’t even trying this procedure.
2. Get a router capable of �port forwarding� such as the Linksys WRT54GS router. This router has a hardware firewall to keep hackers out, but can forward remote desktop requests to the PC you would like to connect to at the remote location.
3. Since most DSL providers use a �Dynamic IP� address, you will want to create and account with DynDNS so you can type in a name like �techblog.dyndns.org� in the Remote Desktop connection dialog to connect to your PC through your DSL router at your remote location.
4. The PC at your remote location must have Windows XP Professional or the Media Center Edition. Any PC that will access the PC must have Windows XP or Media Center.

Getting Started
If you have a router capable of updating a dynamic domain name service and also forwarding IP addresses and ports, you may be able to use Remote Desktop with very little effort.

The first thing to do is determine what kind of router you have and if it will support a dynamic domain name service like DynDNS.com. DynDNS.com offers a free service that helps you access your dynamic IP address easily. Linksys routers have a section in their menus called DDNS for dynamic DNS. If your router supports DynDNS.com, follow the instructions below.

1. Create a DynDNS Account

Click on Add a New Host. The window should look something like this :

Enter a hostname, it can be anything. I entered “techblog”. Hit Add Host.

2. Enabling Remote Desktop
The next thing to do is to enable Remote Desktop on the computer that you will connect to. Right click on My Computer, select Properties, and click on the Remote tab. Check the box that says Allow users to connect remotely to this computer.

To use Remote Desktop, you must also have a password set for your Windows username. If you do not log into Windows using a password, click on Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> User Accounts. Then select the user that you log in as and create a password.

3. Setting a Fixed IP Address

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5. Retrieving Passwords in Wordpress

Filed Under: Web • Windows