Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general (
More info?)
Thanks... Now I get it.
Bob
"Steve Winograd [MVP]" <winograd@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:tbstb11d5oa1mfbsaaitqqqv447bl797il@4ax.com...
> In article <IVBve.6549$up5.3483@lakeread02>, "Bob Newman"
> <bob.newman@cox.net> wrote:
> >>>>>I am home user with a laptop (XP Home) and a desktop (XP Pro). I
currently
> >>>>>do not have a home network but do have high speed web via cable modem
&
> >>>>>router for laptop access. I would like the laptop to be able to use
files
> >>>>>on the desktop & the printer hooked up to it. The desktop is always
on and
> >>>>>always connected to the web and is rarely in use other than myself.
I'm
> >>>>>considering using either a wireless network or XP Pro's remote
desktop.
> >>>>>Could someone please tell me the pros and cons of each (I know the
remote
> >>>>>desktop would let me access it from other places as well as home)?
> >>>>
> >>>>Run the Network Setup Wizard on each computer. If it detects the
> >>>>shared Internet connection provided by the router, tell it to use that
> >>>>connection. Otherwise, tell it that they connect to the Internet
> >>>>through a residential gateway. The Wizard will automatically set up
> >>>>file and printer sharing and install the desktop's printer on the
> >>>>laptop as a network printer.
> >>>>
> >>>>If all you need is to access the desktop's files and printers from the
> >>>>laptop, there's no reason to set up Remote Desktop. Remote Desktop
> >>>>would let you operate the desktop computer from the laptop, just the
> >>>>same as if you were sitting in front of the desktop and using its
> >>>>keyboard and mouse.
> >>>>
> >>>>I frequently use Remote Desktop to operate my main computer from other
> >>>>computers in my house and, via the Internet, from other places. It's
> >>>>great being able to work from anywhere just like I do when I'm sitting
> >>>>at my main computer.
> >>>>
> >>>>If you want to use Remote Desktop from other places, you'll need to:
> >>>>
> >>>>1. Enable port forwarding for port 3389 in your router.
> >>>>
> >>>>2. Use a good user name and password on the desktop computer to
> >>>>prevent Internet hackers from breaking in. The folks in
> >>>>microsoft.public.windowsxp.work_remotely probably have additional
> >>>>security ideas.
> >>>
> >>>Thank you very much. One question though. Is the reason you recomend
the
> >>>network for security purposes?
> >>>
> >>>Again, thanks... Bob
> >>
> >>You're welcome, Bob.
> >>
> >>I'm sorry, but I don't understand your question. Please reply in the
> >>news group and explain it further.
> >
> >You said: "I frequently use Remote Desktop to operate my main computer
from
> >other computers in my house and, via the Internet, from other places.
It's
> >great being able to work from anywhere just like I do when I'm sitting at
my
> >main computer." and yet you primarily recommended I use the networking
> >choice. As far as I can tell the remote desktop gives you everything the
> >network would plus the ability to access the computer from another
location.
> >So my question was why did you recommend networking over Remote Desktop?
> >
> >Bob
>
> Thanks. Let's see if I understand now.
>
> I don't think that I recommended networking (sharing files and
> printers) over Remote Desktop (operating one computer from another
> computer). I use both on my home network, for different purposes.
>
> My main computer has a shared printer that I use from it and from
> other computers on the network. My main computer has shared disks and
> folders (containing pictures, downloaded files, etc) that I use from
> it and from other computers on my network. A simple network with File
> and Printer Sharing enabled lets me do all that.
>
> My main computer has some programs installed (E-mail, news group
> reader, Microsoft Office) that aren't installed on the other
> computers. So, when I want to read E-mail, reply to a news group
> message, or edit a Word document, I have to do it on my main
> computer. But I don't have to be sitting in front of my main
> computer. I can do it from any computer, using Remote Desktop to let
> me operate the main computer. Since my main computer is a
> non-portable desktop/tower, I often run the Remote Desktop client
> program on my laptop computer so that I can work (operate my main
> computer) using the laptop from anywhere in the house, on the front
> porch, etc.
>
> If you just want to access your desktop computer's files and printers
> from the your laptop, then you don't need Remote Desktop. You can sit
> at the laptop, use the laptop's programs, and access the desktop's
> shared files and printers as desired.
>
> If you want to operate your desktop computer from your laptop
> computer, you need Remote Desktop.
> --
> Best Wishes,
> Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)
>
> Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
> for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
> addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.
>
> Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
>
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
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