Remote Desktop Out from Windows 8

The scenario:  You are in Windows 8 and you wish to connect to a Windows 7, or a Vista computer.  From the Metro UI, type 'r' (for remote).  Remote Desktop should appear amongst the Apps.

New Features for Windows 8 Remote Desktop

It all focuses on RemoteFX technology.  What it delivers is:

• As expected, you get the Metro UI multi touch experience.
• Crisper graphics over WAN connections.  Adaptive graphics which can throttle the encoding depending on the bandwidth, or the available server processing power.  There is also better video codex.
• Remote Desktop is available on an ever increasing range of clients' tablet, slate and mobile devices.
• USB Redirection.
• Remote Desktop works well in VMs.
• 'Favorites' almost subliminally remind you of what you were doing the last time you used remote desktop.

Problems with Remote Desktop Connection in Windows 8

Launching the underlying program mstsc.exe rarely gives problems.  Thus troubleshooting focuses on network connectivity and permissions.  And once you get a basic remote desktop connection, there is potential for new problems, for example, printing gives trouble, or Aero Graphics don't display crisply.

Basic Troubleshooting Techniques to Get a Connection

Installation:
No problem, it's already installed, except on Home Basic editions.  Just type 'Remote' in the Search dialog box.

Locking the Remote Machine
The downside of connecting to a remote machine is that for licensing reasons the host screen has to be locked.  The only work-around is to buy a third-party remote control software, which sort of negates the point of the free Windows 8 Remote Desktop Connection.

Editions of Windows 8
The host computer, the distant one that you connect to, must be Windows 8 Professional, Business or Ultimate.  However, the client can be running the home premium edition.  The host could also be Windows 7, Vista, XP or even a Windows Server.

Hostname Problems - Remote Desktop cannot find computer...
Use ping to test the network connection, if there is a problem check the Host records at the DNS server.  Alternatively, use the IP address rather than a computer name.

If you have selected Network Level Authentication then you must type the full computer name at the client.  For example, mycomputer.local and not plain mycomputer.  If in doubt try: ping mycomputer.  The surest alternative is to check in the Control Panel, System and Security, System:  Full computer name.

Disable Firewalls
Disable the firewalls on both the local and remote host computer.  Most other experts will tell you not to do this, but I disable the firewall because it eliminates one factor, and thus re-directs my mind to focus on other sources of configuration mistakes.

Entering Your Credentials
Try to make the connection with a username that has previously logged on at that second computer.  Also check in the Control Panel of the host machine to see that the user has permission to use remote desktop.

Telnet
I mention this as a poor man's alternative to remote desktop, useful if you are desperate to make a connection.

Problems Once You Make a Remote Desktop Connection

For problems relating to local resources, or the connection experience, then click on the 'Options' button (see above), now examine each of the six tabs that you see in the screenshot to the right.

Aero Graphics
For a reason that I cannot fathom the 'Experience' defaults to the slowest connection 'Modem', thus if you have a high speed connection you are going to miss out on Aero Graphics effects - unless you select 'LAN'.

Printers
As usual, printers give their fair share of problems.  My advice is to go to the 'Local Resources' tab and experiment with, and without, the tick in the Printers box.

Full Screen Mode
Break out of Remote Desktop full screen mode with this three-key combination:
Ctrl +Alt +Pause

Save Credentials
I like to reduce hassle by saving my credentials in the General tab.  While it's not a problem in a HomeGroup, if the computers belong to a domain then you can change this group policy.

1. Logon as an administrator.
2. Click the Start orb, in the 'Search' box type: gpedit.msc.
3. Navigate to the Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, and then Credentials Delegation.
4. In the right pane, double-click Allow Saved Credentials with NTLM-only Server Authentication, click Enabled, and then click Show.
5. In the Show Contents dialog box, click Add, type the name of the remote computer (server) in this format: TERMSRV\
6. It may be worth reading the help notes; for example, make sure you capitalize TERMSRV.  Also, you could try using the asterisk * as a wildcard as in:  TERMSRV\*