Accessing Your Work Computer From Home

If you are at home (or somewhere else with computer/network access) and you need to work on your usual workstation at work, you can do so remotely. This article applies only to those connecting to their Windows XP machine at work. What you will be using is referred to as Remote Desktop. With the Remote Desktop feature in Windows XP Professional, you can remotely control your computer from another office, from home, or while traveling. This allows you to use the data, applications, and network resources that are on your office computer, without being in your office.

First, you establish a connection (for example via DSL or modem), then all keyboard and mouse input from your system at home is transferred to your Windows XP system, where this input is executed (for example to run programs). Then, all information, which would be shown on the screen of the system at work, is sent back for display to the system you are working on at home.

To use Remote Desktop, you need the following:

• Windows XP Professional installed on your office computer, or whichever computer you plan to operate remotely. This computer is known as the host.
• A remote computer running Windows (95 or later). This computer is known as the client and it must have the Remote Desktop Connection client software installed.
• A connection to the Internet. A broadband Internet connection improves performance, but it is not necessary because Remote Desktop transfers only the minimal data (such as display data and keyboard data) to remotely control your host computer. Therefore, even low–bandwidth Internet connections allow you to remotely control your office computer.

Steps to Perform to use Remote Desktop:

1. By default Remote Desktop is not activated on your work computer. Have one of the VPURIT staff set these parameters for you so that Remote Desktop will be enabled. (note for VPURIT admins)

2. Install the client software on your home computer.

You can use any 32-bit version of Windows to install/run the Client for Remote Desktop: Windows95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 (The Remote Desktop Client is installed by default already on Windows XP Home and Windows XP Professional).

       a. To install the Remote Desktop Client, insert your Windows XP CD-ROM on the Client PC.

       b. Do NOT select to install Windows XP, Select to "Perform additional tasks."

       c. Select "Set up Remote Desktop Connection."

       d. When the installation wizard starts, follow the directions that appear on your screen.

3. If you do not want to do this, you can just download the Windows Remote Desktop Connection software and then install it.

4. Once the Remote Desktop Client s/w is installed, you can access it via the Windows Start-menu under Accessories / Communications :

5. Start a Remote Desktop Session:

       a. You must first establish a Virtual Private Network connection from your client computer at home to your office network (host computer).

       b. Open Remote Desktop Connection: Click Start, point to Programs or All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, and then
       click Remote Desktop Connection.

       c. In the "Computer" text field type the computer name or IP address for your computer running Windows XP Professional that has Remote Desktop enabled and for  which you have Remote Desktop permissions (Note: be sure to contact a member of the VPURIT staff to verify that these permissions are set correctly).

       d. You may get a Remote Desktop security warning dialog box. Just click OK.

       e. In the "Log On to Windows" dialog box, type your user name, password, and domain (if required), and then click OK. To change your connection settings, such as        screen size, automatic logon information, and performance options, click Options before you connect.

Note: If you are using Vista to connect through Remote Desktop you will see the following message to warn you about using two different Operating Systems. Just click "YES" and you should be connected. You may need to put "ads\" in front of your username when connecting.

The Remote Desktop window will open and you will see the desktop settings, files, and programs that are on your office computer. Your office computer will remain locked. Nobody will be able to work at your office computer without a password, nor will anyone see the work you are doing on your office computer remotely.

To log off and end the session:

1. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, click Start, and then click Shut Down.The Shut Down Windows dialog box appears.

2. In the drop-down menu, select Log Off <username>, and then click OK.