Thread: How do you connect to a remote PC without a monitor?

I have a desktop and a laptop. Recently, my desktop's monitor broke, and i just remembered that i have several files that i need stored on my desktop. I need a way to connect to it using my laptop. I think the way to do it is connecting to it using my network, but i don't know how to do it without a monitor for the desktop. My laptop is running Vista and my desktop is running XP.

No, you will need a monitor to configure the desktop for networking.

Unless you already had your network set up, it is unlikely networking will work in this situation alone; file-sharing on networks usually takes a little bit of coaxing on each computer. I would suggest you ask a friend if you can use their monitor for a few minutes, connect your desktop to the monitor, download a free utility called Network Magic (http://purenetworks.com) and install, and designate the folders you want to share (folders you want to be able to access....http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/maintain/share.mspx). Then finally install Network Magic on your laptop.

At that point, you should be able to access the folders you shared from your laptop.

While you have the computer connected to a monitor though, you might as well directly copy the files you need since file transfer through a network is usually quite slow.

Your second option is to buy a hard drive enclosure, into which you insert your desktop's hard drive, giving you full access to the files. You will need to know if your hard drive is SATA or IDE before choosing which enclosure you need. I have listed a link to one of those below.

You can use a program avalible from Windows XP that allows you to remotely connect to the computer and you can see and control the computer from the laptop. Only disadvantage is this can be slow because of all the information on the screen that must be transmitted in real time.

The program is called Remote Desktop Connection and can be accessed by going to Start > Programs > Accessories > Communications on Windows XP Professional. Then go on the desktop computer and type in www.whatismyip.com to find out the IP address. Type this number into the Computer field in Remote Desktop Connection on the laptop and hit enter. You will need to login.

Remote desktop does not work with all versions of windows, "Windows XP Home" for example.
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