Remote Desktop from Windows Computers

If you need to work from home, and you have a Windows computer, you can log into your work PC using a Remote Desktop connection file provided by the IT Team. Your computer them becomes a “dumb terminal”, controlling your work PC and showing its screen. While you’re logged in via Remote Desktop, the screen on the PC at work is blank - only you can see the content.

Instructions

1. Retrieve your Remote Desktop connection file from the IT Team or appropriate person. This may be via a USB drive or other means.

2. Copy this file to the desktop of your home computer or laptop. This can be done by simply draging it from the USB drive and dropping it to the desktop.

Setting up the file to Save your Password

Once the file has been copied to your home computer, you can simply double click the file to initiate a connection, however this will require you to enter your username and password every single time. To prevent this we will set the connection file to allow us to save credentials.

1. Right click the connection file and choose edit

2. As shown below, on the general tab, check the box titled “Allow me to save credentials.
   
   

   Open

   

    

3. Choose Save, and close the window

Connecting for the first time and saving credentials.

1. Double click the connection file, you may be presented with the security dialogue below:
   
   

   Open

   

    

2. Check the “Do not ask me again for connections to this computer” box, and then click connect

3. When Prompted for credentials, your username should be automatically filled. You’ll just need to enter your password. And tick the “Remember me” checkbox as shown below:
   
   

    

4. You may now be presented with a dialogue warning that the identity of the remote computer cannot be verified. Tick the “Don’t ask me again for connections to this computer checkbox and then click Yes, as shown below:
   
   

    

5. You will now see your work desktop as if you were sitting at your desk displayed full-screen on yor monitor.

6. When you wish to close the session simply push the X on the little blue control bar at the top of your screen (Note: this can be made to auto-hide if you click the little pin icon. It will then only appear when you hover your mouse over the middle - top of the screen):
   
   

    

Related articles