Why can't I connect to some computers?

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Home Server

The following operating systems support Remote Access via Windows® Home Server:

  • Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 (SP2)

  • Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

  • Windows XP Tablet Edition with SP2

  • Windows Vista Ultimate, Vista Business, or Vista Enterprise

If your home computer is running an operating system that does not support Remote Access, you may be able to upgrade the operating system. See the Microsoft Windows Web site at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=78011 for information about which version of Windows might be right for you.

Troubleshooting

Check the following issues if your home computer is running an operating system that supports Remote Access and you still cannot connect to it.

Make sure the computer is configured to allow remote-desktop connections

To configure computers that are running Windows XP

  1. Log on to the computer with a user account that has administrator privileges.

  2. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

  3. On the System Properties page, click the Remote tab, and then make sure that the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer check box is selected.

  4. Click Select Remote Users. User accounts with administrator privileges are automatically allowed to connect. If you want to allow additional user accounts to remotely access this computer, click Add to enter those user accounts.

  5. If you use Windows Firewall, open Control Panel, and then double-click Windows Firewall. Verify that Windows Firewall is on. Click the Exceptions tab, and then verify that Remote Desktop is selected.

  6. Restart your computer.

  7. If you use a third-party firewall program, verify that it allows network traffic on TCP port 3389 through the firewall. See the software vendor's documentation for instructions.

To configure computers that are running Windows Vista

  1. Log on to the computer with a user account that has administrator privileges.

  2. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.

  3. Click Remote settings, click Continue, and then make sure that the Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure) check box is selected.

    Important

    If you select Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication (more secure), you cannot connect to this computer via Windows Home Server Remote Access, and the connection status for this computer is "Disabled."

  4. Click Select Users. User accounts with administrator privileges are automatically allowed to connect. If you want to allow additional user accounts to remotely access this computer, click Add to enter those user accounts.

  5. If you use Windows Firewall, open Control Panel, and then click Security. Click Windows Firewall. Verify that Windows Firewall is on. Click Change Settings, and then click Continue. Click the Exceptions tab, and then verify that Remote Desktop is selected.

  6. Restart your computer.

  7. If you use a third-party firewall program, verify that it allows network traffic on TCP port 3389 through the firewall. See the software vendor's documentation for instructions.

Make sure your broadband router is configured properly

Under normal circumstances, you can configure your broadband router for Remote Access by using the Windows Home Server Settings, Remote Access page.

Make sure your home computer has a user account with a password

To log on to your home computers using Remote Access, you must have a user account on your home computer with a password. You cannot log on to home computers using Remote Access with a user account that has no password.