I want to log onto a friends COMPUTER with the remote desktop in XP Pro. I have had a practice on my own local network to see if all went ok and it did. I logged on with IP address, user name and password. How can i get my friend to give me his ip as i a bit confused at this point. Do i use something like this http://www.ipaddresslocation.org  which will read his IP then he gives it to me. Just not sure as doest his ISP change his IP now and again ? and i know his PC connects by a router
Scroll down half way on that page and it says
My IP Address
XX.XX.XX.XXX
Or can i use his physical addrees "physical addrees is the network address of his network card ?" or can i use his host name with Remote desktop. I GO these 2 from my Pc By Start > Run .....type in ...cmd...
Or is an easier way to do this, eg FREE software as my friend is not good at following instructions.
Also when setting up a static IP you need PREFERRED DNS server and Alternate DNS server. The preferred DNS server i can get but where do you get the Alternate DNS server, is it something to do with your router ?
Thanks for you time Doj I prefer http://whatismyip.org/ because it is plain and simple. But yes, ipaddresslocation.org is fine.

Your friend could setup an account with no-ip.org. Then download the DUC program from the no-ip website. So when his IP address changes, you can have a host name that will always be the same and won't change. For example, he could make doj.no-ip.org - then you use that in remote desktop, therefore you don't need to ever get his IP off him again.

Just make your alternative DNS server the next IP in your network range. So if your preferred DNS is 192.168.1.1 then make the alternative 192.168.1.2.

You also have to forward TCP port 3389 on your router and so does your friend. Since you said he is not good at following instructions, I doubt he will be able to forward a port on his router, unless he already knows how to.

I hope this helps, Good Luck!

You can also visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/northrup_03may16.mspx

That site has almost everything you need to know about Remote Desktop in Windows XP. It also tells you step by step on how to do it.