Remote Desktop Problems

[tripLe]

I've been trying to connect my Macbook Air to one of my PC machines and no matter what I try I keep on getting error messages. As of right now, I am using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection 2. I have made sure that my PC is allowing remote desktop to work, as well as the firewall being down. I have also made note of my PC's network IP.

So, whenever I run RDC and type in my PC's IP, I keep on getting this message: "You were disconnected from the Windows-based computer because of network problems. Verify that your network and Internet connections are working, and then try reconnecting to the Windows-based computer." Now, I have been able to access my PC's shared folders from my MBA with Finder, using "Connect to server..." with no problem at all.

And, when I go to my PC and turn on the firewall, but leaving an exception for RDC, I get a different error message when trying to connect. "The Mac cannot connect to the Windows-based computer. This problem can occur if: - The Windows-based computer is not set up to accept remote connections. - The Windows-based computer is not turned on. - The Mac, or the Windows-based computer is experiencing network problems. Try connecting to the Windows-based computer again, or contact your administrator." Now, this error message comes up after a few seconds of thinking on the RDC program, but with the firewall off, that error message is pretty much instant. Also, if I go to my PC and turn on the firewall, and turn off the exceptions, I get the message above.

I am using a Windows Ultimate PC and both of my computers are hooked up to the same network via WiFi and a router. Anybody know a work around on this? Do I need to fix some settings on my router or PC? Or is there another way to access my PC from my MBA, like using VPN?

 

[tripLe]

bump?

 

[DoFoT9]

hello there, i know its a very late reply.

have you gotten any third party hosting software installed such as "tightvnc" which creates a server for the remote desktop program to connect to/??

it should work once you install and configure that correctly.

 

[adryden1]

Same problem.

HI,

Can't help I'm afraid, but if it makes you feel better, I have exactly the same problem. I've even risked turning off the firewall altogether without success.

The only thing I can find that might describe the problem is in the "OS supported documentation'. Here it specifies that remote access supports Windows XP Professional or Windows XP Media. I think my PC is just bog standard XP so perhaps this is the problem.

Good luck it's really frustrating I know.

I've had similar problems accessing DRM protected sites (which is why I wanted this - so that I could view stuff on my PC ..... and accessing my hotmail account via Imail.

All the documentation tells you how to do it - you go through the whole rigmrole and then it doesn't work. Very frustrating.

 

[nwhunt131]

I was getting this message using the hostname, but when I entered the IP address directly I didn't get this message. Hope this works for you as well.