How to get a PC working without a screen?

[Just-]

Hi there guys
i admit i dont know much about wake up on LAN and remote management that is why i need you help.

I have a laptop and a desktop.
the desktop i have is a fresh install of windows xp pro, i dont have a screen nor keyboard nor a mouse for it.
i want to turn that machine into a network attached storage but that is not why i am posting this.
i am posting this topic because i want to access the desktop of the machine with my existing laptop connecting to it via an ethernet cable.
i dont know if there is a cd or a software i could install that would allow me to remote manage it without having to get a screen.
please don't suggest for me to install remote administrator or activate remote desktop sharing from windows because all those requier for me to 1st get a screen, yes i could borough a screen from a friend and do that but i wonder if there is some other way around this.

so how do i get to my machine without getting a screen for it ?

thank you all for your help

 

[KennyG]

I believe you can remotely manage the computer while it's booted up which *should* allow you to setup remote desktop I think if I remember correctly.

Try going to control panel>admin tools>Computer management

Then action>connect to another computer

Type in \COMPUTER NAME (you can sub computer name for IP address if you don't know it).

 

[Just-]

yeah so now i can get into the admin tools of the other PC how do i set it to be able to remote manage it?

how do i turn it on?

how do i create or turn on guest account?

 

[CcXD]

Let me get this striaght, u want to see the desktop from the other computer, in ur labtop`'s desktop? remote manage it as if u were using ur labtop as keyboard/mouse for that pc? am i correct?

 

[Just-]

yeah thats right
so ok now i got into my desktop via my laptop using windows remote desktop sharing but i am finding that it is crap
i got a question when i restart my machine it stops in a main log in screen
if i dont log in i cant get remote desktop to work, why is this?

so i have to log in once the 1st time and then i can start using remote desktop .
this sucks because every time i got to restart the machine i got to plug a keyboard to type in the password for the machine only then i can remote control it

what am i doing wrong
how can i get it to start earlier or should i use some other program ?