Remote Desktop - first try

[lisag]

Trying to use remote desktop to get into my HTPC from my main PC, all connected via a router with Cat5.

I don't want to set up a password on my HTPC, is there a way round this?
I found something called gpedit.msc via Google but there is no obvious way of switching the password required option off.

Failing that, is there some third party software that will do this better?

thanks
lisa

EDIT: By the way the network works fine as it is, with internet connection and file sharing so the machines can communicate with each other.

[The Dude]

stick with remote desktop, definitely...


all you should need to connect is the user name/password for a user with admin priveleges on your HTPC...

Even if you don't normally logon to the HTPC, it should have still asked you for an admin username/password as part of the MCE2005 installation? ( though I could be wrong there, don't have MCE installed yet)

once you know the details, you can save the remote desktop connection profile with the logon details included, so you should only have to do this the one time only....

does that help?

[lisag]

I just have one user on my MCE machine, as an admin user with no password. When I set a password before it messed up the file sharing and the log on process, which is why I don't want to mess with it.

Is there anyway to bypass the 'password required' condition of remote desktop?

thanks for the prompt reply

lisa

[The Dude]

an interesting one... I've never been in the blank password situ before...

exactly what happens when you try using the blank password... does it just throw up a warning straight away, or try to connect and fail...?

[The Dude]

If that doesn't work.... you can setup a user from your regular PC as having remote connection access...so you don't need to login as the HTPC admin...

I'm pretty sure this will logoff the HTPC user though... would that be a problem?



if you wanna give this a try goto system properties on the HTPC, and then the remote tab...

make sure the 'allow remote users' checkbox is checked..
then click on the 'select remote users' button
click on 'add'

then choose a user from your other PC and add them in... that should sort it.

[The Dude]

and if none of that works, and you really dont want to set a password for the user (a blank password is still a password, I'm a bit stumped as to what happened there TBH)

get yourself a copy of TightVNC (free).. it works well, and works outside of any windows security, it should just connect.. never tested on MCE, but it works fine with XP machines so should be fine..

you're much better with remote desktop though, if you can make it happen...

[lisag]

Hi,

OK, if I try to browse the MSHOME domain it says 'The MSHOME domain/workgroup does not contain any Terminal Servers'

If I try to connect by typing in the IP address it tries for ages then says 'The client could not connect, and talks about remote connections not being enabled.'

I can ping that IP address ok, and remote connections are switched on in the HTPC system properties.

Will have a look at TightVNC.

Thanks again for your help

lisa

[nigelbb]

You need a password on the account to access it via remote desktop. Create another account with a password & admin privileges then connect using that username/password combo.

[lisag]

Originally Posted by nigelbb

You need a password on the account to access it via remote desktop. Create another account with a password & admin privileges then connect using that username/password combo.

Yes, thanks for helping, I don't want to do that though because it messes up my file sharing settings and the logon process on the MCE HTPC... I was looking for a way of doing it without having to have a password..?

lisa

[The Dude]

what nigel means is just create another account, with admin rights and a password, and just leave this in the background... you wouldn't need to change the logon process on the mce machine...

worth checking the 'remote connections enabled' checkbox is enabled too...

goto system properties on the HTPC, and then the remote tab...
make sure the 'allow remote users' checkbox is checked..


that would throw a spanner in the works definitely if it's not checked...?

[lisag]

Originally Posted by The Dude

what nigel means is just create another account, with admin rights and a password, and just leave this in the background... you wouldn't need to change the logon process on the mce machine...

worth checking the 'remote connections enabled' checkbox is enabled too...

goto system properties on the HTPC, and then the remote tab...
make sure the 'allow remote users' checkbox is checked..


that would throw a spanner in the works definitely if it's not checked...?

OK, I'll give that a go, yes I have got 'remote connections enabled' checked, but fair enough question!

I have managed to browse into the MSHOME domain found this

But can't get over the password thing yet...

lisa

[JohnS]

I use tweak ui which is a free download from MS which enables a machine with a password to automatically log on the designated user account at bootup.

After you disconnect from a RDP session it goes back to the welcome screen. Create a shortcut on the dektop of the machine you are remoting into called Restore RDP and point it to %windir%\System32\tscon.exe 0 /dest:console

When you wish to end the RDP session just click the shortcut and it will log back on to the desktop.

[The Dude]

and if you fancy getting jiggy with some Cmd line stuff....




net user (newuser) (password) /add

then...

net localgroup administrators (newuser) /add

[lisag]

Thanks for all your suggestions, but I give up

Even with a password set I still can't make a connection. It may be a firewall problem with my Linksys router, I set up port forwarding on port 3389, but it still didn't work.

The Tweak UI app sounds promising, but I wanted to operate my HTPC entirely by remote control if poss, and even clicking on the desktop shortcut will annoy me Plus I will have to re configure all my network shares with a password, and I've got the hump now!!!!

lisa

[The Dude]

another dumb question maybe... but is the XP firewall turned off on the HTPC?

I don't use tweakUI myself, I just use remote desktop to fully control my HTPC... my HTPC doesn't have a keyboard, mouse, monitor.....