Windows 7 Need help with Remote Desktop

When using Remote Desktop to connect to a computer over the internet, there are a few additional considerations compared to connecting within a local network. Here are some steps and potential reasons why you might be encountering issues connecting to your family computer cross country via the internet: 1. Firewall Settings: - Ensure that the firewall on the remote computer is allowing Remote Desktop connections. You may need to create an exception or allow Remote Desktop through the firewall settings. 2. Public IP Address and Port Forwarding: - Using the public IP address obtained from a site like "whatismyipaddress.com" is the correct way to connect over the internet. However, for Remote Desktop to work, the remote computer's router needs to forward incoming Remote Desktop requests to the correct computer in the local network. Port forwarding should be set up on the remote router to forward the Remote Desktop port (default is 3389) to the internal IP address of the computer you want to connect to. 3. Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP): - Ensure that the remote computer has a static internal IP address assigned. If the internal IP address changes due to DHCP, the port forwarding rule may become invalid. 4. User Permissions: - Make sure that the user account you are using to connect has permission to access the remote computer via Remote Desktop. The user account must be a member of the Remote Desktop Users group or have explicit permission to connect remotely. 5. Network Configuration: - Check if there are any network restrictions or firewalls (like those provided by an Internet Service Provider) that might be blocking Remote Desktop connections. 6. Remote Desktop Configuration: - Double-check the Remote Desktop settings on the remote computer to ensure that Remote Desktop connections are allowed and properly configured. 7. Network Speed and Stability: - Since you are connecting cross country, network speed and stability can affect the Remote Desktop connection quality. Ensure both sides have a stable and fast internet connection. By verifying these points and making sure all settings are correctly configured, you should be able to establish a Remote Desktop connection to your family computer cross country. If you continue to face issues, you may need to troubleshoot each of these aspects to pinpoint the problem and resolve it.