Where is Remote Desktop?

[Terry Pinnell]

On this XP Pro PC I'm trying to install an application to allow
communication with my iPad, and it apparently uses Remote Desktop.

But I'm unable to follow the instructions I see here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsXp/using/mobility/getstarted/Remoteintro.mspx

"To set up the Remote Desktop, start with the host computer, which in this
example is your work computer.
1. Verify that you are signed in as the administrator."

I am the sole user and have full admin rights. I never have to 'login'. So
I assume that's OK.

"2. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Performance and
Maintenance."

That's the big snag - I don't have such an entry in Control Panel!

Can anyone help please?

 

[Paul]

On this XP Pro PC I'm trying to install an application to allow
communication with my iPad, and it apparently uses Remote Desktop.

But I'm unable to follow the instructions I see here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsXp/using/mobility/getstarted/Remoteintro.mspx

"To set up the Remote Desktop, start with the host computer, which in this
example is your work computer.
1. Verify that you are signed in as the administrator."

I am the sole user and have full admin rights. I never have to 'login'. So
I assume that's OK.

"2. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Performance and
Maintenance."

That's the big snag - I don't have such an entry in Control Panel!

Can anyone help please?

I think that implies "Control Panel : System" is where they
want you to go.

It could be, you're using the Classic View like I am.

You probably have a separate Windows Firewall icon in the Control
Panel folder as well.

They're all in there, somewhere...

Paul

 

[glee]

On this XP Pro PC I'm trying to install an application to allow
communication with my iPad, and it apparently uses Remote Desktop.

But I'm unable to follow the instructions I see here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsXp/using/mobility/getstarted/Remoteintro.mspx

"To set up the Remote Desktop, start with the host computer, which in
this
example is your work computer.
1. Verify that you are signed in as the administrator."

I am the sole user and have full admin rights. I never have to
'login'. So
I assume that's OK.

"2. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Performance and
Maintenance."

That's the big snag - I don't have such an entry in Control Panel!

Can anyone help please?

You have Control Panel set to Classic View. Open Control Panel, in the
left panel (the Tasks panel) click "Switch to Category view" to see
Performance and Maintenance.
OR, stay in Classic view and skip the Performance and Maintenance step
and go to the control panel item they mention in the next step.

This is basic stuff.....XP 101. Surely you know this and just forgot...

 

[Terry Pinnell]

I think that implies "Control Panel : System" is where they
want you to go.

It could be, you're using the Classic View like I am.

You probably have a separate Windows Firewall icon in the Control
Panel folder as well.

They're all in there, somewhere...

Paul

Glen, Paul: Thanks both. I did eventually unscramble my brain enough to
succeed. The RD itself I found via the very simple Win+Brk > Remote. And
added it as an exception in XP Firewall.

But a more difficult obstacle was that, with RD duly setup on the PC, on
the iPad I was asked to provide a Windows password.

I don't use one on this OEM PC. Never need one to login. More accurately,
after some research, I think I have a 'null' pw. But 'by-passing' the pw
box initially by OKing out of it without entering anything repeatedly
resulted in this error
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/iPadLogin-1.jpg

I eventually seemed to fix that by ensuring (after more reading) that
'null passwords' were allowed. This was done by navigating to
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local
Policies\Security Options\Accounts: Limit local account use of blank
passwords to console logon only. Then I
* Double-clicked Limit local account use of blank passwords to console
logon only.
* Clicked Disabled, and then click OK.

--------------------
So...my remaining major question is: how secure am I without a Windows
login pw? Ideally I'd prefer not to have one. But what's the general
consensus about the security issue in general please? And for Remote
Desktop in particular? Without a PC login pw, does that make it very easy
for others to access my PC?

And once I've assigned one, could I decide to revert to a 'null' pw? IOW,
is there a 'Remove Password' button or some such?

 

[Paul]

Glen, Paul: Thanks both. I did eventually unscramble my brain enough to
succeed. The RD itself I found via the very simple Win+Brk > Remote. And
added it as an exception in XP Firewall.

But a more difficult obstacle was that, with RD duly setup on the PC, on
the iPad I was asked to provide a Windows password.

I don't use one on this OEM PC. Never need one to login. More accurately,
after some research, I think I have a 'null' pw. But 'by-passing' the pw
box initially by OKing out of it without entering anything repeatedly
resulted in this error
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/iPadLogin-1.jpg

I eventually seemed to fix that by ensuring (after more reading) that
'null passwords' were allowed. This was done by navigating to
Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local
Policies\Security Options\Accounts: Limit local account use of blank
passwords to console logon only. Then I
* Double-clicked Limit local account use of blank passwords to console
logon only.
* Clicked Disabled, and then click OK.

--------------------
So...my remaining major question is: how secure am I without a Windows
login pw? Ideally I'd prefer not to have one. But what's the general
consensus about the security issue in general please? And for Remote
Desktop in particular? Without a PC login pw, does that make it very easy
for others to access my PC?

And once I've assigned one, could I decide to revert to a 'null' pw? IOW,
is there a 'Remove Password' button or some such?

I don't know the answer to that, but it sounds like trouble.

http://www.mobydisk.com/techres/securing_remote_desktop.html

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/computers...hrough-the-ipad-with-desktop-connect-app/2088

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Desktop_Protocol

Security is applied in layers. Each layer, makes it more difficult for
a hacker to gain access to your system. So if the "transport" is cracked,
there is another layer after that, they have to get through.

It all depends, on how "public" the interface is. For example, if
I connected a computer directly to the Internet, left all the ports
open (so they give a response to the outside world), it wouldn't take too
long before someone noticed port 3389 was present and responding at
my IP address. So depending on how "visible" the WinXP PC is, that
increases your chances of being "tested".

If this is a Wifi interface, then there are people who drive down
residential streets, and see what open Wifi networks exist. A person
like that, could then crack the simpler forms of Wifi security, and
then start working on your Port 3389 if they wanted. And so on.

You really want as many layers of security, as you can set up. If
the API you're accessing, is demonstrably insecure, then use another
method.

Or alternately, look for another setup, which does the same thing
as what Microsoft provides, only with better security features.

http://www.teamviewer.com/download/mobile.aspx

http://www.teamviewer.com/products/security.aspx

Paul

 

[ctowers]

You have Control Panel set to Classic View. Open Control Panel, in
the left panel (the Tasks panel) click "Switch to Category view" to
see Performance and Maintenance.
OR, stay in Classic view and skip the Performance and Maintenance step
and go to the control panel item they mention in the next step.

This is basic stuff.....XP 101. Surely you know this and just
forgot...

IMO, it's MS that needs to give more detail.