Windows 7 Remote Desktop Question

[geoffw]

Has anyone had any experience of using the Remote Desktop feature on Windows 7? According to the Windows 7 FAQs you have to have W7 Professional to use this feature.


What I would like to know is this. If the computer you want to view the Remote Desktop on is using W7 Professional can the remote machine have an earlier operating system such as XP, Vista pr even W7 Home? ... or do both machine have to be using W7 Professional or Ultimate.

[Memfis]

If the computer you want to view the Remote Desktop on is using W7 Professional can the remote machine have an earlier operating system such as XP, Vista pr even W7 Home?

As far as I know the rdp client and server are the same on all versions of windows where available (updated through windows update).
However I've been wrong twice this week, so better wait for someone else to also confirm this.

I have used the windows 7 rdp client to connect to various clients and I don't forsee any problems using any version of windows to connect to a windows 7 rdp server.

As for which versions of windows 7 include the rdp server componant I don't know, but isn't windows remote assistance available on all windows versions?

Alternatively look at ultravnc.

[geoffw]

I saw it being used with two machines using W7 Ultimate and was impressed. But according to Microsoft FAQs I need to have Professional or Ultimate.

All editions of Windows 7 include Remote Desktop Connection.

•You can use Remote Desktop to initiate a connection from any edition of Windows 7.

•You can connect to computers running Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate, or Windows 7 Enterprise.

•You can't use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to computers running Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, or Windows 7 Home Premium. .... my emphasis

... actually re-reading that it seem to me the Remote Desktop you wish to connect to and control must be on the W7 Professional computer. Ideally what I need it the reverse. To me able to take control of the Desktop on a Windows 7 Home Premium machine from a new one I am hoping to get. I can have W7 upgraded to Professional for £30. I was just wondering if anyone had this setup running?

for some reason I can't get VNC to work between to W7 Home Premium machines .....

[Memfis]

Ahem, 3rd time this week.
Windows 7 uses a new version of rdp that supports aero, so I'm not sure about the whole using xp to connect to win 7 bit.

There is a 'patch' arround which enables multi user rdp server on win 7 home premium however I cant comment on it...

[geoffw]

...........
There is a 'patch' arround which enables multi user rdp server on win 7 home premium however I cant comment on it...

Originally Posted by Memfis

Not even in a PM?

[Memfis]

Sorry no, I can't condone unauthorized microsoft patches.

However it is easy to find if looked for.

[geoffw]

Understood Memfis!

[geoffw]

I've now got Remote Desktop working on my two, local, PCs and have all the 'control' I need of the remote machine.

However one thing is puzzling me. I expected that I would 'see' on the desktop of the machine being remotely accessed the mouse moving around the screen and the program windows opening as I worked the Remote Desktop. The content of the screen on the machine accessing the remote computer should mirror that of the remote desktop.

In my case it does not. For example, if I have a Word Document open on the remote machine, it is not open when I access the remote PC I have to open Word and then open a second instance of the relevent document.

Similarly if I open a program on the screen of my second computer it does not appear on the remote computer screen when it runs on the remote desktop.

I'm sure when my son used VNC on my two computers some time ago the remote desktop on the second machine did mirror the remote computer.

[Memfis]

You've setup multi user rdp.

Sounds like you actually wanted vnc - which would have been far easier to setup

Have a look at realvnc.

[Austin_KW]

You've setup multi user rdp.

Sounds like you actually wanted vnc - which would have been far easier to setup

Have a look at realvnc.

Originally Posted by Memfis

Or teamviewer if you want a free zero-config remote access that you can use from anywhere on the net.

[geoffw]

You've setup multi user rdp..

Originally Posted by Memfis

Well now I HAVE got it set up - can you explain how to set it up for a particular user, infact the ONLY user, that me the Administrator!

[Austin_KW]

For multiple user rdp you get a new login for each,
From memory you can connect to an existing remote session but not to an existing local login.
For single user you will cause the existing local session to logout when you remote in.

At least that is the way I remember it. I currently use vnc, teamviewer and logmein for remote access.

[geoffw]

I'm not partucalarly interested in remote, remote access if you see what I mean.

I have a USB weather station that I want to relegate to an old PC and not bother with a monitor etc - so the remote access is simply within my own home network.