How 2 connect Mac book pro to windows 8.1 desktop/computer

I need some help in connecting my mac book pro/ windows laptop to My main computer and everything on it. I've never had 2 computers in the same house before. I use my Windows 8.1 for everything, but there are times when I'm somewhere else in the house where I'd like to access anything/everything on it. I have Wifi AC through a dlink router. I also have wired ethernet through the house. Thats not the problem, just how to connect the main computer to every other computer in the house either wifi or wired. If I'm out in the garage and I want to see my desktop computer on my mac book pro how can I do it. Also... I installed splashtop on each computer, but haven't figured it out if its the right software. I guess I need the right words to make the questions I have ask understandable for everyone.

Simply put I want to be able to access my Mac book pro and my Android S3 phone to be able to access everything on my desktop computer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I use microsoft remote desktop from the apple app store but you will need 8.1 Pro on your main computer you want to access as 8.1 core does not support remote desktop hosting. If you have the core version I would suggest TeamViewer - Free Remote Control, Remote Access & Online Meetings. You'll have to install it on mac and windows. Either of these will open a screen showing the desktop of the remote computer and you can then control it as if it was in front of you.

There is also a Teamviewer andriod app but I've not tried that.

What you may like to consider also is WakeOnMac so you can send a wake on lan signal to your windows machine in case it is sleeping to save going inside to turn it on. With some configuration this will also work if you are not at home.

Edit: Alternatively if you don't want to see the screen and operate the remote computer you can map a drive. This will let you access files and copy/save them but will not let you run programs or in any other way control the other PC.

From your mac to your main windows PC it is like this http://lifehacker.com/247148/how-to-mount-a-windows-shared-folder-on-your-mac and the other way around like this http://lifehacker.com/247541/how-to-access-a-macs-files-on-your-pc

Andriod can connect like this http://www.howtogeek.com/191378/how-to-access-shared-windows-folders-on-android-ipad-and-iphone/ apparently but I don't use Android so can't vouch for it.

Please advise which (if any) of these you are attempting - i.e. you want to control the remote PC or just access shared files on it.

Adam, the android version of Teamviewer works just as well as any of their other versions. It works better when you are using a tablet, vs. Smartphone.

I forgot to mention that on my mac book pro I have VMWare Fusion with XP running. I am planning on Installing Windows 7 to replace XP.

I always thought that any computer in your house could access eachother.

tmyc said:

I forgot to mention that on my mac book pro I have VMWare Fusion with XP running. I am planning on Installing Windows 7 to replace XP.

I always thought that any computer in your house could access eachother.

Click to expand...

It can if you are not running a firewall on the computer, or do not have the VM set up properly.

I do have Eset Internet Security.

Since I have and use different Operating Systems, WinVista, Win7, Win8.1, Mac OS X and Linux Mint 17, I have a NAS/Network Attached Storage 1TB drive attached to my Router. It's formatted NTFS but Linux and OS X have no problem accessing data I've put on it. Works with Wi-Fi Notebooks through the Router. I also have printers attached to the Router and any computer I install the software on can use them.