Remote Desktop Connection not working

[Bruce]

We are trying to run Remote Desktop Connection across a simple
workgroup/LAN. We have Win XP computers on this LAN running RDC fine. But
the two computers that have been upgraded to Vista Ultimate are no longer
able to use RDC. (For what it is worth, they are not really "upgrades",
since we wiped the disks before installing Vista.)

So far, on the Vista Ultimate computers:

1) On Control Panel | Advanced System Settings | Remote | Remote Desktop ...
selected "Allow connections from computers running any version..."

2) In Windows Live OnceCare... Change OneCare Settings | Firewall |
Advanced Settings | Sharing...
-- "If files and printers are shared..." I select "Only share then with
computers my local network
-- "I enabled, allow Remote Desktop connections to this computer from:"
.... I selected "All computers, including those on the internet"

When try to connect from Vista computer to the other via RDC, I get this
error: "This computer can't connect to the remote computer. Try
connecting again. If the problem continues, contact the owner of the remote
computer or your network administrator." (That advice doesnt help me much,
since I am the owner and the "network admin".

Cheers, Bruce

 

[uneventful]

I have limited vista experience, but try using netsh to verify what
ports you have open. See if port 3389 is open:

netsh>firewall show portopening

Port configuration for Domain profile:
Port Protocol Mode Name

 

[Lang Murphy]

We are trying to run Remote Desktop Connection across a simple
workgroup/LAN. We have Win XP computers on this LAN running RDC fine.
But the two computers that have been upgraded to Vista Ultimate are no
longer able to use RDC. (For what it is worth, they are not really
"upgrades", since we wiped the disks before installing Vista.)

So far, on the Vista Ultimate computers:

1) On Control Panel | Advanced System Settings | Remote | Remote Desktop
... selected "Allow connections from computers running any version..."

2) In Windows Live OnceCare... Change OneCare Settings | Firewall |
Advanced Settings | Sharing...
-- "If files and printers are shared..." I select "Only share then with
computers my local network
-- "I enabled, allow Remote Desktop connections to this computer from:"
... I selected "All computers, including those on the internet"

When try to connect from Vista computer to the other via RDC, I get this
error: "This computer can't connect to the remote computer. Try
connecting again. If the problem continues, contact the owner of the
remote computer or your network administrator." (That advice doesnt help
me much, since I am the owner and the "network admin".

Cheers, Bruce

Bruce,

Hmm... not sure... must assume you're using an acct name that's on the
target boxes, right? I can RD from my Vista Ultimate seat to an XP MCE seat
in my home network workgroup and I had no issues doing so, i.e., I did
nothing special to make the connection.. And you say the Vista seats "...are
no longer able to use RDC." Were they ever able to use RDC? Can they RDC to
each other?

Lang

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Bruce,

First, can you access shared files from the machine that you are trying to
RD to?

If not, then you have a basic network configuration problem that needs to be
resolved first. Instead of the machine name, try using the machine's IP to
RD. If that works, then the node type on one of the systems is likely to be
incorrect.

If you can easily access shares, then you need to check the RD settings on
the machine being accessed, not the machine doing the accessing.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Bruce]

When I said "no longer able to use RDC", I meant that they were able to
connect to each other back when they ran Win XP.

Today, the two Vista Ultimate computers can RDC to XP computers, but no
computers (XP or Vista) can RDC to the Vista computers.

 

[Bruce]

Yes, we are doing file sharing just fine in all directions (XP to Vista,
Vista to Vista, etc.)

As for RD settings, I showed the RD settings for the Vista computers (which
I am trying to access) in the original posting. What is wrong or missing
regarding those settings?

Thanks, Bruce

 

[Bruce]

Here is what I got (although I've never used netsh and am not clear on the
command parameter usage)...

C:\Users\bruce>netsh
netsh>firewall show portopening verbose=ENABLE

Port configuration for Domain profile:
Port Protocol Mode Traffic direction Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Port configuration for Standard profile:
Port Protocol Mode Traffic direction Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------


So it would appear that port 3389 is not open. Not good.

But is netsh checking the OneCare firewall or just the Vista built-in
firewall? And if it is checking the OneCare firewall, then what settings
should I be verifying next?

Thanks, Bruce

 

[Lang Murphy]

Yes, we are doing file sharing just fine in all directions (XP to Vista,
Vista to Vista, etc.)

As for RD settings, I showed the RD settings for the Vista computers
(which I am trying to access) in the original posting. What is wrong or
missing regarding those settings?

Thanks, Bruce

I don't have One Care... is that a separate FW from Vista's FW? Did you try
disabling the One Care FW?

Lang

 

[Lang Murphy]

When I said "no longer able to use RDC", I meant that they were able to
connect to each other back when they ran Win XP.

Today, the two Vista Ultimate computers can RDC to XP computers, but no
computers (XP or Vista) can RDC to the Vista computers.

So did something change because in your original post you said Vista
couldn't RD to other PC's. "When try to connect from Vista computer to the
other via RDC,"...

Lang

 

[Bruce]

Lang,

I am very glad you asked, as you forced me to verify my assumptions! In my
original post I simply meant that I cannot run RDC from one Vista computer
to the other. But when you asked, I went back and re-tested....

Turns out that I can run RDC from my vista notebook to me vista desktop (but
unfortunately, that's not what I reallly need to do.) However, I cannot run
RDC from my vista desktop to my vista notebook.

Also, I found that file sharing is only working in one direction. My vista
notebook can read/write files on shared folders from the vista desktop. But
the desktop cannot see any shared folders on the notebook (even though I did
set up a shared folder on the notebook.)

I looked through all the networking settings that I can find, and everything
looks identical on both computers. So I am extremely baffled by the
asymmetry in behavior.

Also, was suggested by another post, I tried shutting off the Windows Live
OneCare firewall (winss process) on both computers, and that changes nothing
about the relavent behavior. So it is highly unlikely that the firewall is
causing the problem.

What suggestions can someone offer for next steps in debugging?

Thanks,
Bruce

 

[Bruce]

Windows Live OneCare is Microsoft's antivirus & firewall product. (Fresh
out of beta not all that long ago as I recall.)

I did try shutting down the OneCare process (winss) on both vista computers,
but it did not affect my inability to run RDC from my vista desktop to my
vista notebook.

Thx, Bruce

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Uninstall it completely.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Bruce]

I called MS Tech Support today. Problem is now solved. Turns out that
OneCare was indeed the culprit. For some unknown reason, I had set the
"Firewall Protection Level" to "Restricted". I adjusted it down to
"Automatic (recommended)", and suddenly my RDC and file sharing problems
disappeared.

Thank you to everyone who suggested debugging steps. Very much appreciated.

Cheers, Bruce