University Computer Help Desk

Before You Begin

To perform these instructions, you must be using the Administrator account or an account that belongs to the Administrator group on your computer.

Remote Desktop allows you to remotely access the computer using Remote Desktop Connection, which is built in to Windows XP/Vista. You can use WebVPN to remotely access a computer; refer to 1315: How to use remote desktop connections in WebVPN.

Enable Remote Desktop in Windows XP

To enable Remote Desktop in Windows XP, do the following:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right-click on My Computer and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
3. Click the Remote tab.
4. Place a check mark next to the option, Allow users to remotely connect to this computer.
5. By default, the account you use to log in to the computer has privileges to connect remotely. If this is a campus computer, you will use your ULID and password to remotely connect, just like you do normally.
6. You must also make sure Remote Desktop is opened in your Windows firewall; refer to the section below.

Enable Remote Desktop in Windows Vista

To enable Remote Desktop in Windows Vista, do the following:

1. Click the Start button.
2. Right-click on Computer and select Properties from the pop-up menu.
3. Click Remote Settings.
4. Select the option, Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure).
5. By default, the account you use to log in to the computer has privileges to connect remotely. If this is a campus computer, you will use your ULID and password to remotely connect, just like you do normally.
6. You must also make sure Remote Desktop is opened in your Windows firewall; refer to the section below.

Open Remote Desktop in the Windows Firewall

To allow Remote Desktop through your Windows firewall, do the following:

1. Click Start > Control Panel.
2. Double-click Windows Firewall. (In Windows Vista, click Change Settings.)
3. Click the Exceptions tab.
4. In the list of Programs and Services, place a check mark next to Remote Desktop. (In Windows Vista, place a check mark next to both Remote Desktop and Remote Administration.)
5. Click OK.

Now that Remote Desktop is enabled and is allowed through your Windows firewall, you can remotely access this computer.