[Don_S]

Can anyone recommend a free but good remote access program? I want to control my music server (W10 Enterprise) from my desktop (W11 Pro). Both devices are connected to the same Ethernet router.

I was using VNC but it is no longer free. I rarely use the music server but it is also a great device to copy CDs to W64 files for my other server. I tried installing Chrome Remote Desktop but the program does not download. I think it is extinct. Windows only works if the device being controlled has a Pro version installed. Windows Enterprise is a bulk license version of Pro but I still can't get it to work. I think Windows has abandoned the remote desktop app.

Every program I install wants to make that device the slave. i.e. the unit being controlled. I have not been able to establish a working program on my W11 desktop to make it the controlling unit.

I need something cheep & cheerful. And easy.

[WGH]

I want to control my music server (W10 Enterprise) from my desktop (W11 Pro).

You can downgrade the W10 Enterprise to a Pro, that might work. I have never done the downgrade but plenty of directions on Google search.

Microsoft website:
Note: While a Remote Desktop server (as in, the PC that you are connecting to) needs to be running a Pro edition of Windows, a client machine (the device you are connecting from) can be running any edition of Windows (Pro or Home), or even a different operating system altogether.

[How To] Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise To Pro Edition
https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-downgrade-windows-10-enterprise-to-pro-edition

[Don_S]

You can downgrade the W10 Enterprise to a Pro, that might work. I have never done the downgrade but plenty of directions on Google search.

Microsoft website:
Note: While a Remote Desktop server (as in, the PC that you are connecting to) needs to be running a Pro edition of Windows, a client machine (the device you are connecting from) can be running any edition of Windows (Pro or Home), or even a different operating system altogether.

[How To] Downgrade Windows 10 Enterprise To Pro Edition
https://www.kapilarya.com/how-to-downgrade-windows-10-enterprise-to-pro-edition

WGH,
I saw that requirement before. So I found this:

Yes, Windows 10 Enterprise supports Remote Desktop connection:

    Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
    Remote Desktop is available for Windows 10 Enterprise and other Pro versions, but not for Home editions. To enable RDP, you can:

    Open Start

Select Settings
Select System
Scroll down and select Remote Desktop
Click the toggle switch to enable Remote Desktop
Confirm your action in the pop-up window

I go there and see this:

ON-enable remote desktop
Yes-keep myk pc awake for connections....
Off-make my PC discoverable on private networks to enable automatic connection from a remote device

I tried multiple times to change the last one to ON. I toggled "show settings", changed the setting to "turn on network discovery", and saved the change but it did not stick. 

Even if I get that working it does not solve the problem with my W11 Pro desktop. I can't get the remote desktop program to make it the controlling computer. Every program I try makes it the slave.

[WGH]

I tried multiple times to change the last one to ON. I toggled "show settings", changed the setting to "turn on network discovery", and saved the change but it did not stick. 

Google AI came up with this:

To make your Windows 10 Enterprise PC discoverable on private networks and enable automatic connections from a remote device, you need to turn on "Network Discovery" in the network settings, which can be accessed through the Registry Editor by navigating to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" and setting the "NetworkDiscovery" value to "1"; ensure your network profile is set to "Private" as well.

[GentleBender]

How about TeamViewer? It has a free version that I use. https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/solutions/roles/personal-use/

[Don_S]

How about TeamViewer? It has a free version that I use. https://www.teamviewer.com/en-us/solutions/roles/personal-use/

Thanks for the suggestion. I installed TeamViewer on both computers but cannot figure it out and connect the two. There always seems to be a piece missing. I used TV years ago. There was probably a reason why I stopped.

My music server does not have a permanent display, keyboard, or mouse. I have to install them every time I need to download or update software. I need a program that does not require a display, keyboard, and mouse every time I use it. I need a program that my desktop can use to reach out and connect a named device or IP address. Can TV do that if I figure it out?

I am thinking of recycling this music server and buying a second Aurender. The Aurender in my main system has worked for two years without a hiccup. The Conductor app works great from my iPad. I just don't use the second system enough to justify the cost of a new player.

[GentleBender]

I’m sorry you are having such a hard time. It has to be a setting or something that is preventing you from succeeding. I wish a could fix it for you. I use this program to connect to a computer at my office without any problems.

[nlitworld]

I've used Chrome Remote Desktop for quite a while to control my PCs including my HAL MS6 streamer. Have you installed the Chrome Remote Desktop on both the server PC and the Desktop PC? Which internet browser are you using to access? That program should work without a hitch. Could you give some more feedback around that?

On a side note, are you using a shared music folder on your network? You could also just use Foobar and set the library folder to that server pc. I do this and control my streamer like a headless unit via Remote Desktop on my phone or the slightly more clunky Foobar Remote app.

[Don_S]

I've used Chrome Remote Desktop for quite a while to control my PCs including my HAL MS6 streamer. Have you installed the Chrome Remote Desktop on both the server PC and the Desktop PC? Which internet browser are you using to access? That program should work without a hitch. Could you give some more feedback around that?

On a side note, are you using a shared music folder on your network? You could also just use Foobar and set the library folder to that server pc. I do this and control my streamer like a headless unit via Remote Desktop on my phone or the slightly more clunky Foobar Remote app.

I tried to install Chrome RD on both devices but each time the program wanted to make that computer the slave. In other words, access and control that computer from another one. Music is stored internally on the server. I had Edge and FireFox. Now I have added Chrome.

[WGH]

I tried installing Chrome Remote Desktop but the program does not download. I think it is extinct.

Chrome Remote Desktop downloads just fine. I didn't install because I don't need it.




The install file is waiting in the download folder



A few thoughts:
I have a Google gmail email account
Went to the RemoteDesktop Install download link using Chrome, it appears to install a Chrome plug-in too
https://remotedesktop.google.com/access/
Using Windows 11 not W10 Enterprise. I have experienced programs not installing on old or strange operating systems. The drivers for my HoloAudio May DAC do not install on a friends music server that runs the Windows 2016 Server OS, no hi-res demos at his house, just NOS. Windows 2016 Server was was developed concurrently with Windows 10 so driver should install but don't, it is just different enough, like maybe Enterprise is.

[WGH]

Try Volumio if you want a remote music player. The Windows OS is free. I haven't used it, you are on your own.

https://volumio.com/

[Don_S]

I see one mistake I was making. Using settings/remote desktop all I could see was this:
ON-connect to and use THIS PC from another device
  followed by:
Use THIS name to connect to THIS PC from another device
  followed by:
Select who can remotely access THIS PC

If I type Remote Desktop Connection into the bottom search bar I get a program that lets me enter the name of the computer I want to control (my music server). That is where I need to be. Unfortunately my music server won't "stick" when I enable Remote Desktop.

Aside from that, in a more intelligent and user friendly world, a user would have the option in Remote Desktop to specify inny or outty.

[WGH]

I see one mistake I was making. Using settings/remote desktop all I could see was this:
ON-connect to and use THIS PC from another device
  followed by:
Use THIS name to connect to THIS PC from another device
  followed by:
Select who can remotely access THIS PC

Yea, I have no idea that that means either.

You are not the first person to have this problem, have you searched YouTube for an install video? I have found that 9 times out of 10 there is a video for whatever I want to do. A friend always wants me to do tech support over the phone, lately I have been sending her a YouTube link.

Installing Google Chrome Remote Desktop
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=install+chrome+remote+desktop