Connecting to an Older Version of Windows

Remote Desktop can also connect to client computers that use older versions of Windows, including Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me, if the client computer has an installed copy of the Remote Desktop Connection software.

To install Remote Desktop Connection software on an older system from a Windows XP CD, follow these steps:

1. Place the Windows XP CD in the drive.

2. If the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP window doesn't open automatically, open My Computer and then double-click the CD icon.

3. From the Welcome window, choose the Perform Additional Tasks option. The window shown in Figure 41.12 opens.

   
   Figure 41.12: Choose Set up Remote Desktop Connection to install the client software.

4. Click the Set up Remote Desktop Connection option. The Connection software loads from the CD.

If you can't locate a Windows XP CD, you can also download the Connection software from http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx.

After you have installed the Remote Desktop Connection software on a client machine, you can connect to that machine from a host, just as you would connect to a computer running Windows XP.