Click OK. Now you’re ready to take control of that PC. You can use either the Desktop client or the Windows 8 native client. Each has its pros and cons. With the Windows 8 native client, you can control multiple PCs at a time. But you can only run the app full screen, while the Desktop client lets you change the size of the remote desktop window. To run the Desktop client, from the Windows 8 Start screen, type Remote, highlight Apps on the right side, and the Remote Desktop Connection app appears on the left. Click it, and then click Show Options when it appears (Figure 7-10). In the Computer box, type the name of the computer you’re going to control. Make sure that you type it correctly. Type the user name of an account that has access to the remote computer. Then click Connect.
Figure 7-10. Configuring a Windows 8 PC to accept Remote Desktop Connections (step 2)
After a few moments, you may see a screen warning you that the identity of the remote computer can’t be verified. You can safely ignore the warning, so click Yes. If you don’t want to see the message each time you connect, also check the box next to “Don’t ask me again for connections to this computer.” In a few moments, you’ll connect to the remote computer. If you haven’t connected before, you’ll be asked to type your password. (If you choose to make Windows remember it, the set of credentials will be added to the Credential Manager) Once you’re logged in and connected, the connection will appear in its own separate window. The window has controls across the top right for minimizing and resizing the windows. Using that window, you can do everything you normally would do on the computer, as if you were sitting in front of it (Figure 7-11). Keep in mind that this means that when you print, you’ll print to the printer attached to the computer you’re controlling, not the printer attached to the computer taking control. You’ll be able to cut and paste information from the remote client window to other windows. To end the connection, click the X in the window. That ends the connection, but not the actual session. To properly log off and end the session, sign out from the remote Start screen or remote Start menu.
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