Remote desktop - Identical display on both client and host screens

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Remote desktop - Identical display on both client and host screens

christem

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#65118 29-Jul-2010 20:12

I am running Windows XP MCE on a desktop that operates as a HTPC, and I access the machine remotely from my hp tablet using windows remote desktop.

I use the tablet to remotely control media center, with the 6 channel audio output directed to my home theatre amp.

This works great, i can control the music from any room in my house, via wifi on my tablet.

However i would like to be able to do the same with video.

My XP MCE machine is hooked up to my sony LCD tv via an hdmi cable.

When logged in remotely from my tablet, the local display (sony lcd) shows the xp login screen.

Ideally i would like to have the display on both screens identical.

Does anyone have any ideas on how this may be possible.

Any help would be great. Cheers

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#358785 29-Jul-2010 20:29

Get VNC. Its a remote desktop application (much like Remote Desktop) which runs at the application layer, meaning that you see exactly what the screen see's.

Real VNC (free edition) - http://www.realvnc.com/products/free/4.1/index.html

christem

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#358802 29-Jul-2010 20:43

Will give that a crack and see how it goes,

Thanks

christem

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#358842 29-Jul-2010 21:05

Worked a treat, after some tinkering with screen resolutions.

Many Thanks

ArcticSilver

729 posts

Ultimate Geek

#358849 29-Jul-2010 21:08

christem: Worked a treat, after some tinkering with screen resolutions.

Many Thanks

Glad i could help

richms

28189 posts

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#358870 29-Jul-2010 21:23

VNC will do it, but its really slow, much worse than RDP.

I have a similar query but I want the laptop connecting to become a third screen of the desktop machine and let me use the touchpad to move things between all screens.

Richard rich.ms

christem

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#359641 30-Jul-2010 10:54

Richms, I totally agree with you on how slow Real VNC is. Not anywhere near as responsive as RDP. You do get a bit of lag on mouse actions / touch movements etc etc.

Obviously not a network speed issue.

I had thought about trying other VNC software like TightVNC, but after some research I found that VNC operates by sending compressed bitmaps,which is apparently the reason it is so slow. Therefore using another app will make no difference.

I think your idea about the remote display being an extension of the desktop sounds great, although i have no idea about how this would be done.

Nety

2584 posts

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#359774 30-Jul-2010 12:27

have you tried the /console (pre SP3) /admin (post SP3) switch with RDP?

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mcraenz

1140 posts

Uber Geek

#359901 30-Jul-2010 13:50

Even with /console or /admin the local screen will still be locked. You should be able to use the shadow command though. Not sure if it works with desktop is though. Also ultravnc is better IMHO.

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rhysb

435 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#359999 30-Jul-2010 15:13

richms: VNC will do it, but its really slow, much worse than RDP.

I have a similar query but I want the laptop connecting to become a third screen of the desktop machine and let me use the touchpad to move things between all screens.

Have a look at ZoneScreen, free.
http://zoneos.com/zonescreen.htm

Or MaxiVista, not free.
http://www.maxivista.com/

smac

333 posts

Ultimate Geek

#360011 30-Jul-2010 15:30

I VNC into my htpc as well, but if WIn7 is open on the server at the time, I just get a black screen on the client end (regardless of whether or not there was video playing). Is this related to the original issue? Can't tell if it's a VNC limitation or some block built into 7MC.

Not expecting to see video, just the menu screen would be good, as at the moment I have to kinda guess where to click to minimise 7MC....