Remote Desktop works well but works only with Windows XP workstations. If your workstation runs any other version of Windows, you’re out of luck. If you need to access the host system, you either have to physically go to the machine or rely on a non-Microsoft solution like VNC or PCAnywhere.

To solve this problem, Microsoft released a version of the Remote Desktop client that runs on Windows 2000 Professional, as well as comparatively ancient operating systems Windows NT Workstation, Windows 98, and Windows 95. You can obtain the Remote Desktop Client from Microsoft’s Download Center.

When installed, this software allows older Windows platforms to remotely connect to a computer running Windows XP Professional with Remote Desktop enabled. It provides flexible deployment options of the full Terminal Services Client, including auto–repair through Windows Installer technology and application publishing via IntelliMirror management technologies or Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS).