Configuring XP to Act as a Remote Desktop Host

You may want to connect your Windows 7 computer to the desktop of a remote XP machine. If the host machine is running any version of XP except XP Home, here are the steps to follow to set it up to host Remote Desktop sessions:

1. Log on to the XP computer as an administrator.
2. Select Start, Control Panel to open the Control Panel window.
3. Double click the System icon to open the System Properties dialog box.
4. Display the Remote tab.
   TIP Another way to get to the System Properties dialog box in Windows XP and its Remote tab is to select Start, right-click My Computer, click Properties, and then select the Remote tab. Alternatively, you can display the Remote tab directly by pressing Windows Logo+R (or selecting Start, Run) to open the Run dialog box, typing control sysdm.cpl,,6, and clicking OK. (For what it's worth, the equivalent command in Windows 7 is control sysdm.cpl,,5.)
5. In the Remote Desktop group, activate the Allow Users to Connect Remotely to This Computer check box.
6. If you didn't add more users earlier, skip to step 9. Otherwise, click Select Remote Users to display the Remote Desktop Users dialog box.
7. Click Add to display the Select Users dialog box, type the username, and click OK. (Repeat this step to add other users.)
8. Click OK to return to the System Properties dialog box.
9. Click OK.