How to enable Remote Desktop on a remote computer
Contents
Step 1 - Establish a remote connection
This step is a general one. You must have a connection to the remote computer.
Possibilities include: a computer on your network, VPN, SSH tunnel and RD to another computer within the same subnet.
Step 2 - Regedit
Launch 'regedit'
Click 'File' -> 'Connect to Remote Registry'
Enter the hostname or IP address of the computer you want to enable Remote Desktop on.
Step 3 - Change Registry Keys
In the remote computers tree in regedit expand the HKLM branch.
Navigate to: HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\
Change the DWord value of key 'fDenyTSConnections' from 1 to 0
Step 4 - Optional - Change the Remote Desktop Listening Port
Navigate to: HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\
Change the DWord value of key 'PortNumber' from 3389 (Decimal) to what ever port number you wish.
Notes
1) You may have to reboot the remote computer for these registry changes to take effect.
2) Windows Firewall must be disabled before you can establish a remote registry connection See: Disable XP Firewall for details.