Connecting to a Remote Computer

After you have turned on the client software, you can use Remote Desktop to operate the distant computer from a host on the same network. Follow these steps to set up a connection:

From the Start menu, open Programs (or All Programs) Accessories Communications Remote Desktop Connection. The Remote Desktop Connection shown in Figure 41.10 appears.

Figure 41.10: Use the Remote Desktop Connection window to set up a link to a client computer.
If it's not already visible, type the name assigned to the distant computer (the one you want to control with Remote Desktop) in the Computer field (see the previous section to find the name) and click Connect. The desktop from the client computer appears on the host's screen, as shown in Figure 41.11.

Figure 41.11: When a Remote Desktop link is active, the distant computer's desktop is visible on the host.
Meanwhile, the screen on the distant computer closes the desktop and displays the login screen. If a user logs into the distant computer from the keyboard connected to that computer, the Remote Desktop connection closes.
To close a Remote Desktop connection from the computer that is remotely controlling another computer, close the Remote Desktop window.

When the Remote Desktop is maximized, you see a tab at the top of the screen with the name of the client and a set of control buttons. You can work with a Remote Desktop window just as you do with any other window on the host's screen:

To reduce the remote desktop to a smaller window, click the Restore button.
To hide the remote desktop as a button in the taskbar, click the Minimize button.
To close the Remote Desktop client window and end the connection, click the Close button (the X).

Everything else in the Remote Desktop window works exactly like it would if you were sitting in front of the client computer: You can open desktop shortcuts, use the Start menu, and even use the Control Panel to add, remove, or change most configuration settings.

Caution

Don't forget to save any open documents before you close a Remote Desktop connection. If you don't save your work from the host, you might lose any changes.