Windows Remote Desktop - no audio transferred.

Chris Wilson · 3 Nov 2012 at 20:09

I have tried everything I can think of and have given up. I want to use Windows Remote Desktop to view activity on a desktop PC upstairs, that has audio from its speakers as part of the software running. I can control the software itself fine from my laptop downstairs, but I just cannot get the laptop to play the audio the desktop PC is outputting from its speakers. OS on both is Windows XP Corporate, and I am connecting via hard wired cabling. I have gone into the Remote Desktop menus and set Local Resources - Remote Computer Sound to "Bring to this PC", but no joy at all. One thought, apart from user failure, is I misunderstand what audio it "brings across". Hopefully it doesn't just mean Windows sounds, like bleeps and things, but actually means whatever the software on the remote PC is playing through its speakers also comes out of the laptop speakers?

Can anyone think of what may be wrong? Thanks.

d_brennen · 3 Nov 2012 at 20:14

Aside from bringing audio which is playing, what are you trying to achieve? There may be a more streamlined solution than remote desktop

All use RD for is basic admin so can't say I've tried audio

Chris Wilson · 3 Nov 2012 at 20:31

I have a software defined receiver for amateur use on the main PC, and whilst I have succeeded in listening to it in other rooms via my network and Skype and virtual audio cable (VAC) software I would really also like to be able to also control the receiver. This I can do with Remote Desktop, that works perfectly, but no audio. So I then tried playing a basic MP3 file on the main PC in case it was the vagaries of the USB connected, software defined receiver software causing the issue. But not even basic audio from an audio file on my hard drive on the main PC is being played on the laptop. I am using a proper hard wired network, by the way, not Wi-Fi or anything "modern"

PistolPete · 4 Nov 2012 at 00:29

Did you configure the audio settings in the client correctly?? The default may not be "Play at this computer"

Chris Wilson · 4 Nov 2012 at 10:24

I had that set correctly. What I have found is an old post somewhere citing it's sometimes necessary to pre start an audio application on the client machine *BEFORE* opening the Remote Desktop connection. This works, 90% of the time. The rest of the time the audio doesn't play. Bloody computers.....

Thanks for your post Pete, cheers.