I'm trying to connect to Windows Remote Desktop in Windows XP MCE with Unbutu, and have had no luck so far. I have remote connections set up in Windows, and can connect to it with another Windows XP computer, so the settings should be correct on it. With Ubuntu, I've tried both Vinagre and TSclient, and can't get either to connect. I can "see" the Windows computer with Ubuntu, and can access and manipulate files with it, I just can't get Remote Desktop to connect. Any ideas what I may be doing wrong? If more setup info is needed, ask, and I'll post whatever is needed. Also, I'm not very Linux-savvy yet (I'm a Windows man, trying to convert), so please be gentle with me.

Vinagre & TSClient are designed to mimic RDP on Linux. These are replacements for VNC.

To connect to a Windows computer using the RDP Protocol you will want to use rdesktop as it is the most reliable client for connecting to Windows based computers.

If I remember correctly it should be available in Applications --> Internet --> Remote Desktop Viewer

Most all Linux repo's have rdesktop available via their package manager but if apt-get install rdesktop does not work then use the following link to get the source code: http://www.rdesktop.org/#download

only "rdesktop" and IP-address/name are obligatory.

Although it is less efficient, you might consider running vncserver as a service on the windows machine, then you can run sessions on it from other machines (running pretty mush any OS) using vncviewer. That works from all desktop versions of Linux, Windows, and those little fruit machines. There may even be an android port of viewer, in case you want to run your PC from your phone (yuck!).

If another xp computer can connect to this windows box then we can assume it is working at the media center side.

The issue is solely the Ubuntu system if on a lan. rdesktop ought to work by using IP address and the correct user/password of the user. Be sure that your ubuntu firewall is allowing the correct ports and programs.

I finally got Vinagre to work. It was a stupid on my part. I forgot to enter the port that was set up to accept VNC connections along with the IP address of the Windows machine I was trying to connect to. Enter the correct port, and it connects just like its supposed to. In fact, I'm posting this with the Windows machine by controlling it with my Ubuntu laptop. Thanks for the help and ideas!