Windows 10: enable usb devices on remote desktop connected pc

From the comfortable chair and large monitor on the gaming PC in my bedroom, I wish to sequence a bank of synthesizers which are all connected via a number of USB-MIDI adaptors to the ThinkPad in my living room the next room.
I can establish a remote desktop connection ok, but the Remote Desktop software has disabled all USB devices. This means that the only way I can actually work on synthesizer sequences is to kneel on my arthritic knees and squint at a relatively small screen that I struggle to see I'm not the youngest person here.
This really doesn't help me at all.

Years ago I used to use VNC without any problems but since Windows 10, networking in general has been a nightmare and a headache, and VNC has effectively been blocked by the Windows Firewall.

This is obviously a paranoid security decision.

I'd love to know how to disable this roadblock so I can actually get some work done.
:

:)

 

How do I enable a USB device in Remote Desktop?

On my desktop PC I have a USB CD-ROM drive connected.

When I use remote desktop from my laptop to connect to my desktop PC while the USB drive shows up in Explorer in the desktop session it does not function. Windows Media player or other audio apps with run in the desktop session to not recognize the drive.

Of course everything works fine on the desktop PC when used locally. Is there a setting to change on the desktop pc to enable USB devices to be visible when the desktop pc is being used via Remote Desktop?

 

Remote Desktop Connection problems


Have you tried Remote Desktop Connection, to connect from your Windows 10 laptop to your Windows 7 desktop? Try it first, post back and tell how it went.

Some additional help because you mentioned you are a remote newbie *Wink. The windows 7 related tutorials from our sister site the Seven Forums:

1. On Windows 7 desktop, set network location to either Home or Work (I recommend Work):
   • Network Location - Set as Home, Work, or Public Network - Windows 7 Help Forums
2. On Windows 7 desktop, allow incoming remote connections:
   • Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) - Network - Windows 7 Help Forums
3. On Windows 7 desktop, find out its IP address:
   • IP Address - Locate and Find for Your Computer - Windows 7 Help Forums
4. On Windows 10 laptop, start the Remote Desktop application and connect to the Windows 7 desktop using the IP address from step 3 above (see Part Three in the tutorial):
   • RDC - Connect Remotely to your Windows 10 PC - Windows 10 Forums
   • Notice that although the tutorial is written for Windows 10, it also applies to Windows 7

Try the above, post back how it went.

 

Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer

We suggest that you disable any security program on your computer and check if it resolves the issue.

NOTE: Antivirus software can help protect your computer against viruses and other security threats. In most cases, you shouldn't disable your antivirus software. If you have to temporarily disable it to install other software, you should re-enable it as
soon as you're done. If you're connected to the Internet or a network while your antivirus software is disabled, your computer is vulnerable to attacks.

Then follow the steps below to ensure remote desktop is enabled:

• Click Start.
• Click on File Explorer.
• Right-click This PC.
• Select Properties.
• Click Remote settings in the upper left hand corner.
• Ensure the option Allow remote connection to this computer and
  Allow Remote Assistance connection to this computer is selected.
• Click Apply and OK.
• Reboot the PC for the changes to take effect.

Let us know the result.