Remote conytrol of XP media centre

[richardchemist]

Remote control of XP media centre

I want my laptop to act as a remote control for playing mp3s and internet radio on my desktop (and the other options that come with XP media centre). They are connected by a wireless network and the laptop runs XP home.

This is so that I can run a low power FM transmitter off my desktop sound card, and use it to distribute music to FM radios dotted around the house. The whole thing will be much more manageable if I can control it remotely.

I have seen a few solutions that seem rather like overkill, involving secure logons, web access, etc. However, it seems like a simple job to be able to control the desktop within the confines of my own network.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

 

[richardchemist]

Halfway

To my surprise, I can connect reliably from the XP Home laptop to the media centre. I can call up eg a BBC "play it again" programme and start it running, and watch the progress bar. When I close the remote desktop, I get a message to say that the programmes I started will carry on running. So far so good.

BUT nothing comes out of the speakers on the media centre. Also when I close the remote desktop and return to local, the progress bar stops.

The same happens with a CD. It is reported as playing, and I can see the progress bar, but nothing comes out of the speakers. When I relinquish control, the CD stops. I can then activate it locally and hear it playing.

Any ideas?