Control Your Windows PC from a Mac

Hello Internet it’s Friday! You know what that means! I’m going to the movies! Maybe…

Actually this post is for me, as well as for any technically inclined people who are struggling with this issue, or were wondering if there was a way to remote control a windows PC from their MAC.

I do a lot of things off of my Windows PC. It functions as a “media server” for my PlayStation3, it connects the two (500GB and 750GB) USB drives to the network. It is essentially the hub of my house…however, its upstairs in the spare bedroom we are going to, one day I swear, actually buy a second desk for and make it a legit “office space”. Anyway, as I said it’s upstairs, where as the MacBook, TV/Home Theater and PS3 are all on the main level. It was tiresome to be all the way upstairs trying to download something to the USB drive, or download to the MacBook then move it to the PC/USB drives over a wireless G connection. SO I wanted to find a way to remotely control my Windows PC from my MacBook. Quick google search for remote control software and bang two pieces of software displayed Remote Desktop Connection for Mac and CoRD, both of which are free.

So, it’s pretty simple to set up and get working. Install either client, I like CoRD more than RDC. I find CoRD is just a little smoother.

Here is what needs to be done (I should specify this is for Windows XP although the same steps I’m sure exist for Vista or 7):

Install either or both apps on your Mac.

If you are using a router, especially a crazy one like mine that is slightly paranoid about everything, even internal communications, you will probably have to open Port 3389 on your router. It is possible to change the port RDC uses in the windows registry, but I wouldn’t.

On your windows computer enable “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer ” in XP Right-click My Computer->Properties->Remote tab. While you are here note the “full computer name” if you don’t already know what it is.

Ok next step. Get the right IP. Don’t just assume that the IP address your PC had last night before you had to reboot the router will be the same one it gets today…*grumble*

Go to either app on your Mac, enter the computer name and press connect. It may or may not work. If it fails use the IP address. If it is successful you will probably get a warning that says “Remote Connection cannot verify the identity of the computer you are trying to connect to.” I should mention, this warning will only appear if you are using RDC for Mac. There is an option to change to “connect and don’t warn me” it’s not a big deal. It’s just letting you know that the versions of RDC don’t match up.

That’s it. You should be connected to your windows PC and be able to do whatever you want on it.

If you are using an Nvidia video card you may have an extra step in your set up. You connect, everything looks fine…but there is no error. It’s like it connects in RDC and then just doesn’t CoRD flashes black and then nothing. No error message anywhere, it just looks like it connects and the doesn’t.

Update the video drivers for your windows PC. Nvidia drivers and remote control software like RDC and CoRD apparently hate each other unless the drivers are up to date…of course, the drivers had not been updated for over a year.