Port Forwarding For WinXP (RDC) (Using AE 802.11n)

Question

I have some problem and I need some thoughts and input from someone else, Here goes.
Here is what im looking to accomplish. From my work I want to be able to connect into my machine at home (windows XP). I cannot use the standard RDC (Remote Desktop Connection) port 3389. My work blocks all traffic coming through that port. So I need to push it through port 443. My co-worker is doing this just fine with a Netgear switch at home, so I know it should work.
In theory it should work like this.
(In Windows XP I have done this)
Change the registry to move through port 443 (windows web site actually shows you how to do this). I turned off the windows firewall completely. RDC has also been turned on. A static IP has been given to this machine as well
(Airport Extreme I have done this)
Put a static ip and Mac address for the Windows machine. Turned on NAT and Forwarded the UDP and TCP ports for public and Private to port 443. As well as set the private IP adders in the port forwarding to the ip on the windows machine.
(Current results)
I think this is where the beginning of my problem and im not sure if its a windows or a AE problem. Before changing the port on the windows machine I can RDC locally. But cannot get through the AE on the default port 3389.
After changing the port on the windows machine to 443 I can no longer RDC locally and still cannot connect from out side the AE.
Im not sure where to take it from here. Please advise someone im dying to cruse the net from work

Answer 1

Hello Preston Holder. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
As you are already aware RDC clients listen on port 3389 by default.
To change the listening port will require making a Registry mod. This would be typically used if you needed to access more than one computer remotely. (ref: Microsoft Knowledge Base article 306759)
Locate the appropriate Registry key using Regedit.exe:
HKEYLOCALMACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\Port Number
From the Edit menu, click Modify and then click Decimal. Choose a new port number. In general, choosing a number between 49152 and 65535 will avoid conflict with any other apps on your system, but you could theoretically use any port on the system. Once you set the port number you also need to configure your router to pass the specified port to your computer.
To access your computer remotely, instead of typing just the IP address, you need to type the IP address followed by the port number like this: 192.168.1.1:50001