<\/p>\n
Using a remote workstation can be a freeing experience, especially if you\u2019re doing it for FREE. But, when you reach the edge of the freebie experience\u2019s limitations, you may decide to take a walk with an industry giant, forgiving the price tag.<\/p>\n
Microsoft Remote Desktop is part of Windows\u2019 Pro Edition software. When using it, the advantages over other FREE software quickly become apparent. But, while it is far more robust than the other guys, it\u2019s more complicated to install and it requires closer attention when setting up. Let\u2019s take a close look at exactly what this entails.<\/p>\n
To prep your office workstation for remote usage, you\u2019ll need to enable \u201cremote desktop,\u201d a function that is disabled by default in Windows. Turning this back on isn\u2019t difficult but the process differs depending on which version of Windows you\u2019re running.<\/p>\n
1. Search for \u201cRemote Access\u201d in the Start Menu or Start Screen.
\n2. Click on \u201cAllow remote access to your computer\u201d
\n3. A System Properties window should open. Under the \u201cRemote\u201d tab, check the box that reads \u201cAllow remote connections to this computer.\u201d<\/p>\n
1. Right-click the Computer icon and select \u201cproperties,\u201d OR, in the Start Menu search box, type \u201csystem\u201d and select \u201csystem\u201d from the search results.
\n2. In the newly opened window, click \u201cRemote Settings\u201d in the menu on the left side.
\n3. In the \u201cSystem Properties\u201d window that opens, under the \u201cRemote\u201d tab, check the box that reads, \u201cAllow Remote Assistance connections to this computer.\u201d
\n4. Also check the box that reads \u201cAllow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop.\u201d<\/p>\n
So far so good, right? The painless part is over. Now we need to allow your remote computer to access your office PC through the company firewall. We do this by adding a \u201crule\u201d to the firewall.<\/p>\n
At this stage it\u2019s important to understand that, unless you have experience, you should NOT attempt this on your own! Get help from a trained professional like your IT provider and, of course, if you don\u2019t have one of those, then Next Hop can get you set up. (And we can do it remotely).<\/p>\n
Once you have the firewall rule in place, the last step is to find out what IP address you\u2019ll be connecting to when you\u2019re at home. The simplest way to discover your office computer\u2019s IP address this is when you are at the office, using your desktop computer<\/p>\n