Help for using NoMachine only with one local PC

[Belez]

Guys, good night.

I used NoMachine many years ago to work on two PCs using just the main one. And it worked perfectly. I really loved this software.

But over time, I ended up having just one computer and ended up formatting it and no longer using NM. Until I decided to use it again, like its screen recording functionality. And I no longer remember how to operate the program properly.

What I need: I only have a single PC with Windows 11. But I can’t access the settings menu that depends on connecting to another PC, which would allow, for example, configuring the screen recording quality. Apparently I have to create a local connection to access all the features, but when I try to create it from my own PC (single one), it cannot connect to itself and also asks for a password that from what I remember (from when I used it years ago ) was the Windows access password. The problem is that Windows 11 removed the local password, now it is either through the Windows Hello system, or it is through a password related to the Microsoft Online Account, whose password is not recognized when connected by NM.

Is there any way for me to access the extra options the program offers without having to connect the PC to itself? Or how to solve this password problem?

Thanks!

[Britgirl]

Hi Belez, although it’s unusual to connect to localhost, it is possible. Using NoMachine to connect to the local desktop of the very same machine where there is the nxserver running (localhost), rather than using it to connect to a desktop on some other computer, will cause an infinite nested windows effect and a dialog will inform you of that once you get through the authentication stage. So bear that in mind.

So, I understand that you want to record the desktop, but the “Recording bar” from the !M icon in your OS system tray doesn’t give you access to the same Recording settings (letting you set quality of audio and video for example) as the recording tool available to you during a remote desktop connection via the menu (Ctrl-Alt-tab).  This is correct. When activating the recording bar directly from the !M icon, it doesn’t let you set quality using a GUI. BUT you’re request is an interesting one and so we’re going to open a Feature Request which will make it possible.

Now the authentication problem. To access any desktop via NoMachine you need a system account on that computer. It’s exactly the same as it was before, nothing has changed 🙂 It’s just Microsoft keeps changing what you use to login with. On Windows 11 you need to input the same credentials you would normally use when accessing your onelive account on the MS website (provided you’ve not changed the onelive login after setting up Windows). Or you can use the local username assigned to your account. To check the local username, just go into your C: drive, select Users and check what your local username is. Are you sure you are using the right password? Don’t use the PIN that Windows 11 asks you when unlocking the screen.

 

[Belez]

Thanks for the quick response, Britgirl!

I was able to authenticate and log in to my own computer, without using a password, using the invitation method. But before that I tried to disable Win Hello to enter with password mode, the password was correct, but the username I was using was the PC name, it didn’t occur to me to use the Windows username 😅. I had also forgotten that it was necessary to make the connection by adding the IP path via the NX protocol, after which the invitation method worked.

And the screen actually showed infinite cascading repetition, but I managed to partially resolve this by leaving the connection window smaller, without changing the resolution or adjusting the content to the size of the window, and in doing so, hiding the window itself from view display. I don’t know if I could explain it, but it avoided the cascade effect.

Then everything worked, including screen recording. I was able to access quality options. But it would be really nice to be able to make these changes without having to connect the PC itself, directly in the server systray.

Thanks again to you and the NM team!

[Britgirl]

Glad to know you authenticated in the end. Btw, you can always use the word ‘localhost’ in the Host field of the connection details instead of the IP if you prefer. When you say “invitation method”, what do you mean exactly?

[Belez]

Hi, Britgirl. Sorry for the delay, work was really busy these days and I didn’t have much time to log in.

The invitation method is one that the client requests to access the server’s computer. A small window appears in the lower left corner for the server computer to authorize the connection. I don’t know what it’s like in English, as I use the program in another language.

I know that I only had to enter the IP with NX protocol to create the connection in the main menu. And then I connected without needing to use passwords.

Later i’ll try “localhost”, perhaps the connection will be even faster.

[Author]

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