i can ping the remote computer with netbios name or ipaddress. see graphic below. can defintely get to it. it refuses the connection immediately! this is the clue.

when trying to connect with only the ip, i dont even get to the subsequent screens where remote is asking for credentials. so domain or user qualification is not issue.

all other computers on network can see it, and it can see the others. it is listening on the rdp port (see above)

tried connecting from menu item "connect with remote desktop"
[Linked Image from ]

no difference is firewall is turned off on remote.

this should be so easy, but its not. what gives?