Windows XP: Enabling Remote Desktop (Advanced)

Note: This tip will only work on Windows XP Professional and not the Home edition.

Using Remote Desktop, you can take control over your local Windows system from a remote computer. To get this to work for you need the following things:

• The computer you're going to take over has to have Windows XP Professional installed on it with Remote Desktop enabled, and must be attached to a network. You will also need the local computer's IP address (i.e.: 192.168.1.100) or its network computer name (i.e.: \\computer01). You can use the 'IPCONFIG /ALL' to get this information.
  
• You need a local account with a password on the computer you're going to take over.
• On the remote computer you need the Remote Desktop Connection software installed (check: Start menu | All Programs | Accessories | Communications), and to be able to make a network connection to the computer you want to take over.

Follow the instructions below to enable Remote Desktop:

• Under the Start menu, right-click 'My Computer' and select Properties.
• Click the Remote tab, then check the 'Allow users to connect remotely to this computer' check box.
• Press the 'Select Remote Users' button, and then press the Add button.
• In the 'Select Users' dialog box, enter the name of the user you want to be able to connect to this computer and then press the OK button.
• Press the OK buttons to close the rest of the dialogs.

Note: If you're having problem connecting to the computer with the remote desktop enabled, your firewall is probably preventing the connection. If you're using the Windows Firewall, check to see if you have the 'Remote Desktop' exception under the Exception tab in the Windows Firewall control panel. Otherwise follow the instructions on in this article.