Change RDP Port on Windows XP

The setting for the Terminal Services port lives in the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\RDP-Tcp

Open up Regedit, find this key, and look for the the PortNumber value.

 Double click on the PortNumber setting and enter in the port number you wish to use. Unless you think in hex (pat yourself on the back if you do), you might want to click on decimal before entering your new port number.

 Or, you can use my creatively named VelocIT Terminal Services Port Changer application, which is available with source.  This is a simple five minute application that does one thing and one thing only. It allows you to change the port number that Terminal Services listens on.

Remember, all the usual caveats apply about tinkering with the registry. You do so at your own risk.

Connecting via Remote Desktop to the non-standard Port

Now that you have the server all set up, you need to connect to it.  This is pretty easy.  Suppose you change the port for the virtual machine to listen in on port 3900.  You simply append 3900 to the server name (or IP) when connecting via Remote Desktop.