The situation is that you leave your desk with a Vista computer running and wander
to another Vista machine on the same network. You want to
check your email, but it's a
long trek back to the other machine so you decide to make a Remote Desktop
connection.
This where you check that connection is allowed:
Click on 'Start', Control Panel, System and Security, System, Allow Remote
Access.
You can fine-tune the configuration by specifying users, or restricting
the type of remote computer.
The situation is that you have configured the host (remote / network)
computer to allow connections. Now you want to launch the Remote
Desktop Connection on the local client.
To access mstsc.exe, click on the Windows Start Orb and in the Search dialog box, type
Remote Desktop.
Double Click on Remote Desktop Connection - See screenshot.
Type the name of the computer that you wish to access. I also
advise you to examine the Option before you click 'Connect'.
Encouraging computers to sleep when not in use is a great idea -
until you are away from your desk and need a file on that remote sleeping machine!
Wake-On-LAN really will save you that long walk to awaken a hibernating
machine; however my reason for encouraging you to download this utility is
just because it's so much fun sending those 'Magic Packets'. As Wake-On-LAN (WOL) is free, see
if I am right, and you get a kick from arousing those sleeping machines.
WOL also has business uses for example, wakening machines so that they can have
their patches applied.
Installing the program mstsc.exe rarely gives problems. Thus
troubleshooting focuses on network connectivity and
permissions. Once you get a basic remote desktop connection, there is potential
for a whole set of new problems, for example, features such as printing
or Aero Graphics don't work.
Basic Troubleshooting Techniques to Get a Connection
Editions of Vista The host computer, the distant one that you connect to, must be
Vista Professional, Business or Ultimate. However, the client can be
running the home premium edition. The host could also be Vista, XP
or even a Windows Server.
Hostname Problems - Remote Desktop cannot find computer... Try connecting to an IP address rather than a computer name. Use
ping to test the network connection, if there is a problem check the
Host records at the DNS server.
If you have selected Network Level Authentication then you must type the
full computer name at the client. For example mycomputer.local and not
plain mycomputer. If in doubt, try ping mycomputer. The surest
alternative is to check in the Control Panel, System and Security, System:
Full computer name.
Firewalls Disable the firewalls on both the local and remote computer. All
other experts castigate me for this technique, but I do it to remove one
variable and to free my mind; turning off the firewalls forces me to
focus on other sources of configuration mistakes.
Enter Your Credentials Make the connection to the host with a username that has previously
logged on at that computer. Check in the Control Panel of the host
machine to see that the user has
permission to use remote desktop.
Problems Once You Make a Remote Desktop Connection
For problems relating to local resources, or Flip 3D, then check the
Options button (see above), then examine the six tabs that you see in
the screenshot to the right.
Aero Graphics For a reason that I cannot fathom the
'Experience' defaults to the slowest connection 'Modem', thus if you
have a high speed connection you miss out on Aero Graphics effects
unless you select 'LAN'.
Printers As usual, printers give their fair share of
problems. My advice is to go to the 'Local Resources' tab and
experiment with, and without, the tick in the Printers box.
Save Credentials I like to reduce hassle by saving
credentials in the General tab. While it's not a problem in a
HomeGroup, if the computers belong to a domain then you can need to
change this group
policy.
Logon as an administrator.
Click the Start orb, in the 'Search' box type: gpedit.msc.
Navigate to the Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates,
System, and then Credentials Delegation.
In the right pane, double-click Allow Saved Credentials with
NTLM-only Server Authentication, click Enabled, and then click Show.
In the Show Contents dialog box, click Add, type the name of
the remote computer (server) in this format: TERMSRV\<computername>
It maybe worth reading the help notes; for example, make sure you
capitalize TERMSRV. Also, you could try using the asterisk * as a
wildcard as in: TERMSRV\*
»
Summary of Troubleshooting Vista Remote Desktop Connection
The first step in troubleshooting is to check that the distant network
computer is setup to allow remote desktop connections. On the client
computer test with ping that you can contact the target machine. Once
you can make a basic connection examine each tab in the Options.
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