is it possible to control another pc in the same workgroup on a home network or do the pc's need to be on a domain ?

No, they don't need to be in a domain; I RDP into my XP desktop from my Win7 laptop all the time and they aren't in a domain. "Fear disturbs your concentration"

Question for the most excellent gurus present: I could tell when a RDP session to my XP Pro machine was in progress because the display shows a message telling me that a remote user is logged on. Good to know. My question is - how can I enable that in Windows 7 Pro? My new Win7 system works fine... I've setup Remote Desktop and it works, but when a RDP session is in progress there is nothing on the host PC screen to indicate that a user is logged on remotely. It's just a normal logon screen. Surely there must be some registry tweak that will enable it to display the same status notification that XP Pro does? I've looked everywhere I can think of but can't find it. Anyone know the secret? Thanks for sharing. Windows 7 Pro (64) all latest patches and updates applied Asus P6T Deluxe V2 Core i7 920 6GB RAM Intel SSD X-25 G2 160GB

I've also noticed that if a user comes up to the host PC and logs in while the remote user is logged in, it kicks out the remote user without ever giving the local user any indication that he/she just interrupted the remote user session. Someone please tell me that Microsoft didn't design it this way! The only explanation I can find is that THIS IS A BUG, and a MAJOR FLAW in my opinion. Yes, I'm running the release version - not the beta - not the RTM - but Windows 7 Professional (x64) OEM. I would love to hear of anyone having a different experience with this same feature. Details, please!Windows 7 Pro (64) ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 Core i7 920 (oc to 4.00Ghz) 6GB Corsair Dominator 1600 DDR3 160GB Intel X-25 G2 SSD SATAII Drive0 640GB WD Caviar Black 7200 RPM SATAII Drive1 DVD-RW Samsung LightScribe 16X SATA Drive2 HIS Promise4 1GB DDR3 HD4670 Video Card Dual DVI

Rhodco,I run 7 Pro 32 bitand if I use the RDP to remote into a a Pro 7 box the remote useris logged out and they see that I in the box at the login screen.it states user logged from netbook7 right above the password box.

This is more a networking question than win 7 question but here are some queastions for you.Do you have a routers with public WAN ip?Do you have acces to both routers?If so did you forward the port(s) to the Static IP of the box BEHIND the router(s)?By VPN do you just want access to files / printers or do you wish to have access to a remote desktop?

Yes, I have routers with public WAN ip and access to both routers. By VPN, I mean I wish to have access to a remote desktop. I don't know how to forward the ports to the Static IP of the box behind the routers.

BubbaPCguy, Thank you for the reply. Let me make sure I understand what you said. Are you saying that when you use RDP to remote into a Win7 pro box, the "remote" user is logged out? That would be the second remote user wouldn't it? I'm really interested in what you see on the host PC screen when a remote user is logged on. My host PC displays the usual logon screen all the time - even when a RDP session is in progress. The problem being that there is no way to know when someone is remotely logged into the host PC. Do you actually see something change on the host PC screen to indicate that a remote user has logged on? I've tried this in two different host PC's (one is 64 bit, the other is 32 bit) and neither one shows any indication on the screen when a remote user logs in. Please let me know what your experience is .Windows 7 Pro (64) ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 Core i7 920 (oc to 4.00Ghz) 6GB Corsair Dominator 1600 DDR3 160GB Intel X-25 G2 SSD SATAII Drive0 640GB WD Caviar Black 7200 RPM SATAII Drive1 DVD-RW Samsung LightScribe 16X SATA Drive2 HIS Promise4 1GB DDR3 HD4670 Video Card Dual DVI

Rhodco, If I login to NAY of the win 7 pro FROM a remote pc then the PC I LOGGED INTO goes tot he login screen (the local user session is closed) the login box would then show that a remote user is logged in (by the fact is says netbook7 user above the login window.I have tested this on four boxes it is the same on all boxes.

Gorlaw if you do not understand the routers then your easy way is to use https://secure.logmein.com/US/home.aspxit is FREE for personal use.It will allow you to access the PC's without messing with the router (if you need remote printing / sound you will need to pay.There are other ways to do this, but as you say you do not have networking skills, logmein is the easy path to take.

lovely , cheers

@Gorlaw, Did you ever solve this? It's a basic easy solution. A couple pieces of information to clarify and make this really easy. By Static IP, do you mean your router has a static IP (this is usually $$$ per month through your internet service provider (ISP)). If not, that means your router is on a rolling IP address...which changes things. If you do pay for a static IP that's even easier. Next, do all the computers at your small business have static IP's or do you use DHCP (either from a domain controller or that same router) to dynamically give IP's (meaning they're constantly changing). If you can answer these two questions, I can easily guide you through in just a couple steps, assuming you are still looking for an answer. Oh, and you just need access to one specific pc at your business I assume. If not, how many? One is definitely easiest... FYI - VPN is not the same as Remote Desktop Connection (RDP port is 3389, NOT 1723)