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Remote Desktop fails

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by src-brian

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Hello all, I am trying to connect to my computer at work from home. The VPN will connect fine, but when I try to remote desktop I get the error:"The client could not connect to the remote computer. Remote connections might not be enabled or the computer might be too busy to accept new connections. It is also possible that network problems are preventing your connection. Please try your connection again later. If the problem continues to occur, contact your administrator." Both computers are using Windows XP Pro and my office computer allows the remote connection. The router I am using in a Linksys WRT54G with port 3389 forwarded. The VPN protocol is IPsec/UDP. Another employee connects the same way that I am trying but using a Netgear router and has no problems. Are there any known issues with RDC/VPN with the Linksys WRT54G? Any information will be helpful.

25 replies

by jiminpa

On the remote machine right click on "My Computer" select properties, click on the remote tab and put a check mark in the enable remote desktop box.

by jiminpa

It is open by default but you may want to ensure the remote desktop port is open on your firewall.

by src-brian

I already have the remote desktop enabled on the client, and the windows firewall is disabled.

by jiminpa

One thing I took for granted, you were able to ping right? You can also try to telnet to the Remote machine on port 3389 in order to verify the port is indeed open. Also since you are using port forwarding, did you verify the routes are set correctly?

by src-brian

Forwarding ports on the linksys wrt54g is pretty straight forward, so i'm pretty sure that is set up correctly. So from my home computer I should try and telnet the computer in my office using its IP? I am not very familiar with This type of networking. By chance could having a dynamic IP at my house have an effect on my problem?

by jiminpa

If you router is set up to accept connections only from that IP address.

As far as using telnet to test a port, you would go from the PC you are trying to connect from to the PC you are trying to connect to and use the following.

c:\telnet 3389

If it connects all you will see is a blank dos window with a blinking cursor. This is normal behavior. The purpose of that was simply to see if you were able to make a connection to the remote machine on that port. We use this alot in my line of work for troubleshooting. One other thing that I asked about previously but you didn't mention is, have you verified that the Windows firewall is not blocking the connection?

by src-brian

have disabled the windows firewall, and there is no other software that could interfere or block it.

by evilhomergd

Not really sure how you are trying to connect to the remote PC. Are you using the computer name or IP address? If you are trying to connect using the computer name, try using the IP address or the FQDN of the PC.

by jiminpa

Try using telnet to test the port and see what happens. Also is it a fair assumption that you are sure the route is open between the PC's? You can ping or tracert assuming ICMP is not blocked?

by src-brian

When I connect i enter the IP address of my computer. It then asks me for my user name and password, where I enter in what I would as if I were at my desk. On a different subject, I have been given the same router at the office to perform a test connection, and cannot remote desktop from that computer even though it is already on the network. Whatever my problem is has to be router related, or something that needs to be configured in remote desktop.

by src-brian

I am just getting into this kind of networking, and do not fully understand how to do these things.

by jiminpa

I thought you were not able to connect at all. If you are able to connect but it fails when you enter your credentials it may be a simple matter of the way the credentials are being entered. For example, when you log in sitting at you desk and do ctrl-alt-del and enter credentials you just do user name and password. Since your computer is on the domain you do not need to tell it which domain you mean, it is probably in a drop down box at the log in screen. When you connect remotely your home PC is not part of that domain therefore you must specify you want to use domain credentials. That is done by using the following format:

USERID: mydomain.com\username
PASSWORD: password

Does that help?

by src-brian

I actually did try logging in that way and that did not work either. However I did find out, that I cannot remote desktop my machine at the office on the local network. So I'm guessing this this has been my problem all along, so I am going to try and figure out why this computer cannot be remote dektoped.

by evilhomergd

Check to make sure that your PC is set to allow your user account to logon using remote desktop (right-click My Computer -> Properties -> Remote). Click on select Users and make sure that your account has permissions to access the computer using remote desktop. This usually isn't a problem if you are a local admin on the PC, but if you aren't you'll need to be added to the list of Remote Desktop Users

by src-brian

nope, there is no firewall or anything enabled to block anything, and I am using XP Pro.

by jiminpa

You should definitely check to see if your account is in the Remote Desktop users group as EvilHomer stated. If you are able to get a prompt to log in but it is failing. There has to be a simple solution to the problem. You are obviously getting a network connection so that rules out the network.

by src-brian

I am already an administrator, but I added my name anyways and still no luck. I can remote desktop other computers...but others cannot connect to mine.

by jiminpa

Have you attempted to connect via RD from another computer on the same subnet as yours? And just so that I am absolutely on the same page as you, when you attempt to connect you get prompted to log on right?

by src-brian

Ok, I can successfully VPN and remote desktop from my home to computers at my job. I have learned that something is wrong with my computer in my office, because it cannot be remote desktopped, but as far as my initial problem...it works fine.

by jiminpa

There was a guy that used to work in our office here, he was a green horn and we like to "play" with him a little bit. He decided he would load some firewall software on his computer to keep us out. After a period of time he decided that he no longer needed this software on his computer and deinstalled it. Problem is, it never really fully deinstalled. Some residual crap stayed on his PC and he was never able to hit it from the network again. Not even so much as a ping. It wasn't until the PC was completely reimaged did it begin working again. Any chance you were testing some kind of firewall software or something that may have caused the isse with your PC? Just a thought.

by src-brian

no, the main use of my computer is web design and internet use/research. My job uses a Cisco firewall w/ an IPS so we do not use any software firewalls on the PCs.

by jiminpa

Ask a Domain admin if thereis some type of group policy being applied to your computer that would prevent you from using remote desktop.

Last but not least, if it does not violate your company's security policy, you could use the free service offered by logmein.com. I control my home pc from work with that as well as take care of the computers for my brothers excavating business and it works very well. Good luck.

by src-brian

unfortunately i am the admins assistant, so i know there is no policy in effect. I have complete admin rights, so i don't understand what the problem could be.

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