Remote Desktop Access Frustrations!!!

sweeney todd · 11-29-2006, 06:37 AM

I have successfully set up my old PC running Windows 98 to be on speaking terms with my new Windows XP PC via a direct LAN connection using a crossover cable. I can view files and their contents in both directions. I have downloaded and installed Remote Desktop Connection on the 98 PC. This facility already exists on the XP machine (despite it running XP home edition), but I can’t get it to work in either direction.

When I click Remote Desktop Connection>Browse, the LAN address is the only choice on the dropdown list. Clicking on + produces an error message “The ----- domain/workgroup does not contain any terminal servers”.

When I click Remote Desktop>(remote computer name)>Connect I get an error message “The client could not connect to the remote computer. Remote connections might not be enabled ----. It is also possible that network problems are preventing your connection”.

When I right click on Remote Desktop Connection>Compatibility I get a screen with the following message at the top. “Compatibility modes cannot be set on this programme because it is part of Windows XP”. The compatibility mode is greyed out and shown as Windows 95.

I have tried disabling Norton Internet Security but it makes no difference. Any ideas?

95five-0 · 11-29-2006, 01:03 PM

On the XP machine right click on my computer and go to properties then click on the remote tab and make sure you have Allow users to connect to this computer. However I am not sure if you can remote into a Home machine I think you can only remote out. Another things to try would be download VNC. It works on mulitple platforms and is free and easy to setup.

http://www.realvnc.com/download.html

**johnwill** · 11-29-2006, 01:13 PM

I prefer UltraVNC, but it's a similar product.

sweeney todd · 11-30-2006, 02:14 AM

Thanks for the information.

I'm wondering if, despite RDA appearing on my desktop it is in fact disabled because my PC is running the Home edition of XP. This would explain why it doesn't appear on the boot-up disk provided with the machine. Can I get round this by installing the RDA download file on the XP machine that I have successfully installed on the 98 PC?

**johnwill** · 11-30-2006, 08:11 AM

XP-Home doesn't support RDA, that's correct.

11-29-2006, 06:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
sweeney todd Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP SP2 Home	Remote Desktop Access Frustrations!!! I have successfully set up my old PC running Windows 98 to be on speaking terms with my new Windows XP PC via a direct LAN connection using a crossover cable. I can view files and their contents in both directions. I have downloaded and installed Remote Desktop Connection on the 98 PC. This facility already exists on the XP machine (despite it running XP home edition), but I can’t get it to work in either direction. When I click Remote Desktop Connection>Browse, the LAN address is the only choice on the dropdown list. Clicking on + produces an error message “The ----- domain/workgroup does not contain any terminal servers”. When I click Remote Desktop>(remote computer name)>Connect I get an error message “The client could not connect to the remote computer. Remote connections might not be enabled ----. It is also possible that network problems are preventing your connection”. When I right click on Remote Desktop Connection>Compatibility I get a screen with the following message at the top. “Compatibility modes cannot be set on this programme because it is part of Windows XP”. The compatibility mode is greyed out and shown as Windows 95. I have tried disabling Norton Internet Security but it makes no difference. Any ideas?

11-29-2006, 01:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
95five-0 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Corinth, TX Posts: 1,339 OS: 2000/XP/2003/Vista/2008	On the XP machine right click on my computer and go to properties then click on the remote tab and make sure you have Allow users to connect to this computer. However I am not sure if you can remote into a Home machine I think you can only remote out. Another things to try would be download VNC. It works on mulitple platforms and is free and easy to setup. http://www.realvnc.com/download.html __________________ "If it's really a supercomputer, how come the bullets don't bounce off when I shoot it ?" <<PC Pitstop>><< AVG Free>><<Spybot>><<Everest 2.0>><<Trend Micro House Call>><<HijackThis How-to>>

11-29-2006, 01:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	I prefer UltraVNC, but it's a similar product. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

11-30-2006, 02:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
sweeney todd Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2 OS: XP SP2 Home	XP Home Edition Thanks for the information. I'm wondering if, despite RDA appearing on my desktop it is in fact disabled because my PC is running the Home edition of XP. This would explain why it doesn't appear on the boot-up disk provided with the machine. Can I get round this by installing the RDA download file on the XP machine that I have successfully installed on the 98 PC?

11-30-2006, 08:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 41,685 OS: Windows 7, XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	XP-Home doesn't support RDA, that's correct. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience