Remote Desktop won't work on one computer

vanity | 7/28/2014 | chuckles

[chuckles]

I'm trying to get Remote Desktop on my home network to work. I have 2 desktops and 2 laptops. One desktop is my main box and I have 4 screens and use it to serve media to my TV over a web box. I have 6 drives on it and it needs lots of maintenance. I can remote each laptop and the other desktop from each other, but I can't access my main box from anywhere. I've done all the help fixes, but no joy yet. I can even access the laptops and other box from my main desktop, but it won't go the other way. I would love to move files and do work from the laptop to get out of my bedroom. Keeping track of multiple disks and duplicate files is keeping me chained to the bedroom.

I was wondering if it being a server could be the problem or something I'm missing that makes it not work. The very computer I am trying to access is the only one that won't work. I've cut off all firewalls, no AVG, and changed settings till I'm blue in the face. All the others worked first time in 1 minute.

Any words of wisdom from the FR wisdom?

[chuckles]

It’s Win 7 Ultimate.

[chuckles]

7 Ultimate.

[chuckles]

Yes, I can ping the desktop box.

[chuckles]

It’s enabled. I have all the other machines EXACTLY configured the same.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Sharing?

[chuckles]

I was at my wits end, so the next step would be to try 3rd party software, but I really wanted RDP. The knowledge base here is, IMO, greater than Microsoft’s or any of the other blogs that go through all the elementary stuff over and over. Course you guys don’t know what all I’ve tried so I figure there will be some basic stuff thrown out there. I would think if I could get 3 machines going in about 1 min or less, I should be able to copy the same setup on the 4th machine. I’m figuring the “simple” fix will be something the help screens don’t cover, usually software from something else. I’ve watched bunches of Youtubes and they pretty much cover the basics. The Microsoft help boards do pretty much the same. If you Google it, you see many many others have the same problem, but alas, no answer as of yet.

[chuckles]

.."Are you logged on????"....

yes

[chuckles]

Haven’t looked at the log, but as soon as I answer some of these posts, I will look. I got called away and let many kind people answer me without answering back. I really appreciate these people trying to help.

[chuckles]

..."Sharing?"...

Yes, I would be happy with just sharing, but there are so many places to set up special, I like the RD because it's just like being on the home computer. Sharing keeps telling me I'm not allowed, can't get there, blah blah. You can't easily get to the Desktop, certain document and administration folders, ect.

[Greysard]

First I'd try to check that I can establish a TCP session to that port. I'd use WireShark or something like that. Use "netstat -a -n" to check that the port is open and bound to a usable interface. If that works and you see the session established, the second thing to look for is authentication. It may be that the server (the box that you want to connect to) is configured for authentication methods that the other box does not support. You said that the server is Win7 Ultimate, but what is the client? Do you have the same pair of OSes working over RDP on your other computers?

[Mr170IQ]

Chuck,

If your windows 7 is using a ‘windows activation patch’ , then in many cases SP1 breaks remote desktop.

I’d suggest installing an ‘ultravnc’ server as a service http://www.uvnc.com/

[chuckles]

I went to the error logs and found nothing. I purposely tried to RD from my laptop to my desktop and it failed, but there was no entry on the log with the time stamp of 11:30 today. Apparently it’s not even trying to log on.

[chuckles]

3 are Win 7 Ultimate and the 4th is Home Premium. I have almost decided that I need to format C and reinstall because something may be messed up. All the “normal” boxes are checked, but it just won’t even get close. I don’t understand why I can go from desktop to laptop no problemo, but not the other way. I thought I may have found some wrong entries in my firewall, but that didn’t work either. I’ve even stopped my firewall and it was broke, so I’m figuring that’s not the main problem.( may have a problem later but not if it’s not even running.) I will most likely go with 3rd party software if something doesn’t happen soon. It seems it wouldn’t work either if some port wasn’t open.

[chuckles]

Uhhhh,.....thanks. I ain’t sayin, and I’m stickin to it. ultravnc sounds good.

[Greysard]

As another thing to try before you give up: try to open Services (run services.msc) and check that "Remote Desktop Services" are running, then use "netstat -a -n" to verify that the port is listening. On my other box the service start was set to "Manual" and not running because I don't need it. (My box runs "Home Premium", and RDP is only used in Remote Assistance mode.)

[expat1000]

First off, see if it is listening on 3389
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17148

Also, enable telnet client on another machine, and try and telnet in on 3389
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/187628 (or nmap)

If it isn’t listening, check the RDP service with services.msc from a command prompt.

Also as suggested, do the testing with the firewall turned off, but that’s unlikely to be the problem.

[expat1000]

One other thing is, if anyone else has been messing with it, the listening port could have been changed. You can check here.

Start Registry Editor.
Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\PortNumber

[expat1000]

Missed this post by Greysard. My #36 basically just duplicates it.

[roamer_1]

meh.

UltraVNC, TightVNC...

Beer, Cheetos.

[trebb]

Your main box is the only secure computer in the lot....