Control Another PC with Remote Access
You can control a computer—virtually moving its mouse and typing on its keyboard—over the Internet, using either Windows XP’s built-in features or a third-party program.
When you are at work, wouldn’t it be nice if you could log onto your home computer to check your email or find a file you took home? How about using your home or office desktop computer from your laptop on the road? You can use a remote control program to use another computer over the Internet, viewing its screen on your screen and giving commands via your mouse and keyboard. Windows XP comes with a feature called Remote Desktop, or you can use a third-party program. Windows Messenger [Hack #78] also enables people who are chatting to share control of each other’s computers.
The computer you will control is called the remote server , and the computer you are actually sitting in front of is the remote client. Windows XP comes with a remote client program (Remote Desktop Connection), and Windows XP Professional comes with a remote server (Remote Desktop) that works with one client at a time—that is, one computer can “take over” your computer remotely (with luck, it’ll be you doing the takeover!).
Tip
Remote Access Server (RAS) on Windows NT or 2000 servers and the Routing and Remote Access utility on Windows Server 2003 both act as remote servers that allow multiple remote clients to connect.
Windows XP Home Edition can’t act as a remote server; if you need to be able to ...
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