How to setup remote access on a Windows XP PC

February 16, 2008 by Chadwick · Leave a Comment
Filed under: PC Stuff 

What you need

  • High Speed Internet
  • Router w/port forwarding (Linksys WRT54G)
  • DYNDNS Account
  • Windows XP Professional
  • 1 hour of complete silence, no interruptions


Step 1

Enable Remote Desktop on the computer you want to connect to remotely.

Make sure you have a password set on your windows user account. If not, set a password by clicking on user accounts located in the control panel.

  • Right click my computer
  • Click Properties
  • Click Remote
  • Check “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer”

Step 2

Create a DynDNS


Step 3

Set a Static IP Address

  • Right click on My Network Places
  • Click Properties
  • Right click on Local Area Connection and choose status
  • Click Support
  • Select TCP/IP
  • Click General
  • Click Properties
  • Select TCP/IP
  • Click Properties
  • Select Use the following IP address and enter the number
  • Enter the IP address of the router in the Default Gateway & Preferred DNS server fields.
  • Click OK

Step 4

Configure the router

  • Log into your router (usually 192.168.1.1/admin)
  • Setup port forwarding. The default port for Remote Desktop is 3389
  • Click Applications & Gaming
  • Enter Application Name (RDP), Ext Port (a # between 50,000 & 60,000), Int Port. (3389), Protocol (Both), IP Address (same address as static ip of computer, Check Enabled)
  • Make sure you have changed the default user id/password of the router for security purposes
  • Click the Setup Tab
  • Click DDNS
  • Enter your DynDNS account information

Step 5

Install DynDNS software locally on the computer your are connecting to.

Step 6

How to connect.

  • Click Start, Programs, Accessories, Communications, Remote Desktop
  • Enter your computer address from DynDNS
  • Connect using the user id/pass you setup

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