05-27-2009, 03:57 AM

Hi,

I am wanting to connect my new iMac 24" to my dell lap top which runs Vista business. I use the dell lap top for work during the day, but at night when I bring it home want to use the imac to connect to the dell. They are both at home connected to internet via my wireless network already set up.

I setup up the PC to allow remote desktop (all the settings have been setup) and the IT department at work have previously used RDC to connect to my laptop so I know its all setup.

I tried to connect from the Mac to the PC via Remote Desktop connection on the Mac using the dell IP address and its user name and password, but no good.

I also tried to connect the mac to the pc by clicking on "Connect to Server" and putting in the pc IP address but still no good.

Any one have any ideas? Do I need the computers to "connect" before I can use RDC? Is there further setup required on the Mac?

Thanks in advance

05-27-2009, 04:23 AM

Right, I had a problem like this a while back.
I find that the best solution is just to install "Tight VNC" (a free application for Windows - all versions) which enables the Windows PC to be connected to via Remote Connection. I don't know why, but this seems to work better than any built in rubbish ( a teeny tiny bit typical of Microsoft.)

Anyway, once installed, turn Tight VNC on in Windows, and create a password etc. and then go to "Finder" in Mac OS X, click on the "Go" Menu button, select Connect to Server, and type in the IP address of your windows laptop.

Just to make sure you've got the right windows IP address, open up "Command Prompt" in Windows and type: ipconfig

That'll give you your Windows IP address.

Then, make sure that your iMac has remote desktop sharing turned on in the "Sharing" pane in System Preferences.

Hope this works out for ya!

Regards.

05-27-2009, 05:29 AM

Thanks heaps for your help. Microsoft alway making things more difficult!

I downloaded tightVNC on to dell laptop ok and its now running (Server version). I can see the icon running in the botton right on the task bar.

I went back to the mac and in System Preferences-Sharing I have "Screen Sharing" , "File Sharing" and "Remote Login" ticked.

I then went to Connect to Server again and typed in the new IP for the lap top but still would not connect.

Any ideas?

05-27-2009, 05:44 AM

OK, so now you have downloaded Tight VNC, we need to check that it's up and running properly. First, click the Tight VNC icon in the taskbar (or right click and select properties or something,) and then a new window will appear. You need to make sure that all of the options that will enable screen sharing are ticked, for example if there is an option that says "Allow Remote Connections" you need to ensure that selection is "ticked."

Then, launch the Tight VNC server in Windows, and it should work for you. Once done, just try it again from the Mac.

If it still doesn't work, I would suggest you download "Chicken of the VNC" or "VNC Server/Viewer" from the internet. They will work together, and they should work well the Windows version.

If none of the above work, just post another message and I'll give you another option, which I'm almost 100% sure will work if what I've already given you does not.

Regards.

05-27-2009, 06:26 AM

I checked all the setting on TightVNC server and couldn't see one that exactly say "Allow Remote Connections", but went through all the tabs and they appear to be all set up correctly (I think!)

I then downloaded Chicken VNC on the Mac and tried to connect again to the PC, but did not work?

Thoughts?