remedial remote desktop question

[jeff]

Okay.
I bought Windows XP so that I could connect to my home
machine from my desktop, when I am not at home.
Remote desktop should do this for me, right?
So I set up my desktop at home by checking the allow
users to connect remotely to this computer checkbox in
the system properties/remote tab. I even set up a new
user account specifically for connecting remotely with a
new user id/password.
I am not on a 'domain' system, as I use a single desktop
computer at home with a cable modem and am attempting to
connect to that system remotely with my laptop(although I
am actually testing the connection locally using a
hub)...each system has a unique install of win xp pro on
them, with separate cd keys/serial #s.

So, when I try to connect to the desktop from my laptop
using a remote desktop connection where I have input the
name of my computer (not ip address) the user name and
password I set up for connecting leaving the domain field
blank, I get the error:

"The specified remote computer could not be found. verify
that you typed the correct computer name or ip address,
then try connecting again..."

I know I must be missing something here...since if any
shmoe randomly typed in my computer name using their
remote desktop connection client, they might be able to
get on to my home desktop if they guessed my user
id/password. right?

I did some reading in the xp help file and online that
said I need to lock my desktop computer before i can
connect to it remotely, but locking is only an option
when you are on a domain-based network according to
another note in the help file.

any way. some help in setting up this remote desktop
connection would be much appreciated.

 

[Sooner Al]

You need to use the public IP of the home PC. If the IP is dynamically assigned by your IPS look at
using one of the dynamic DNS services that map a fully qualified domain name to the ISPs DHCP
assigned IP address. Typically a small program runs on the PC and contacts the dynamic DNS services
server on a periodic basis. The IP is mapped to the name and that information is propagated over the
public internet. Call using the fully qualified domain name. I use a *FREE* service from No-IP.com

http://www.no-ip.com

Others, some free some $$$$, are listed here...

http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com/ow.asp?Remote_Network_Home/Connections

If the PC is behind a firewall/NAT/router or the XP Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is enabled
then you also need to open TCP Port 3389 to the PC.

 

[jeff]

thanks for that...so i did an ipconfig found, my ip
address, released, renewed and it was the same so, for
now I know it's not immediately dynamically assigned by
comcast (my cable broadband ISP), and i won't bother with
mapping the ip to a domain name.

when i enter in the ip address, username/password into
remote desktop from my laptop, it begins the session with
a logon dialog, but an error message states that "the
local policy of this system does not permit you to logon
interactively"

so I log off of the host system...it gets to the win xp
welcome page where you can select a user, and i try the
remote desktop connection again. but, same error message
appears. help!

-----Original Message-----
You need to use the public IP of the home PC. If the IP

is dynamically assigned by your IPS look at

using one of the dynamic DNS services that map a fully

qualified domain name to the ISPs DHCP

assigned IP address. Typically a small program runs on

the PC and contacts the dynamic DNS services

server on a periodic basis. The IP is mapped to the name

and that information is propagated over the

public internet. Call using the fully qualified domain

name. I use a *FREE* service from No-IP.com

http://www.no-ip.com

Others, some free some $$$$, are listed here...

http://www.remotenetworktechnology.com/ow.asp?Remote% 5FNetwork%5FHome%2FConnections

If the PC is behind a firewall/NAT/router or the XP

Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) is enabled

 

[Lucky One]

How is your network setup

1 I take it that your cable modem is plugged in tot he uplink port of the
hub and the desk top and the laptop in to normal ports ?
2 Or do you have two network cards in the desk top one for cable modem and
one to the network hub?

If one do you get two ip address's from your ISP one for the desktop and
one for the labtop
If two did you manuly give ip address's to the second network card in the
desktop and the laptop

 

[jeff]

You are correct with the #1 scenario, and yes the isp
assigns unique ip addresses to the desktop and laptop--
two of them, one for the desktop(host) and one for the
laptop

and, I don't have the systems networked peer-to-peer,
they are just using the hub to share the internet
connection.

what is this "login interactively" error? and is there a
way to "lock" my host system, so that win xp pro will
accept the incoming remote desktop connection from my
laptop?

 

[jeff]

i can ping the pc using the ip address.
not the computer name, cuz i don't have them set up on a
peer-to-peer network.

i have a static ip address assigned by comcast, it may be
dynamic, but i've never noticed that it changes.

 

[Lucky One]

is the account a member of the remote user group or an administrator group
do you have firewall

 

[Lucky One]

or task manger, shut down, lock computer

maybe some settings in group policy
"

 

[jeff]

thanks for all your posts, see my re-post up the list...I
eventually solved the issue by allowing the right to
connect to terminal services for each user.