# I can't copy and paste between computers

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Cause: Some clipboard formats cannot be pasted.

| Solution: Copy the text into an intermediate program that has a compatible clipboard format.

##### Copy from a Windows-based computer and paste to the Mac

1. On the Windows-based computer, copy the text that you want.

2. On the Mac, open TextEdit and paste the text.

3. Copy the text from TextEdit, and then paste it into the file that you want.

##### Copy from the Mac and paste to a Windows-based computer

1. On the Mac, copy the text that you want.

2. On the Windows-based computer, open Notepad or Wordpad, and then paste the text.

3. Copy the text from Notepad or Wordpad, and then paste it into the file that you want.

Cause: The file is inaccessible from the Windows-based computer.

| Solution: Before you start the Remote Desktop session, make the Mac disks available to the Windows-based computer.

1. On the RDC menu, click Preferences.

2. Click Drives, and then on the pop-up menu, select the option that you want.

   Your disk or folder is now available so that you can access files that are on your Mac from the Windows-based computer.

   If you make this change after you connect, the disk or folder that you select becomes available the next time that you connect.

3. On the Start menu, click Computer or My Computer.

   The Mac disk or folder that you have made available is listed with all other disks and folders on your Windows-based computer.

   Note If you can't see the Start menu, on the View menu, click Full Screen.To return to window mode later, point to the top edge of the screen until the RDC menu bar appears. On the menu bar, click View, and then clear the Full Screen check box.

4. Open the disk or folder that you want to copy from.

5. On the Start menu, click Computer or My Computer.

6. Open the disk or folder that you want to copy to.

   You should now have two windows open, one for the location that you want to copy from, and one for the location that you want to copy to.

7. Drag the document that you want to copy to the location that you want.

Cause: Terminal Services Group Policy does not allow drive sharing.

| Solution: Contact the network administrator about your Terminal Services Group Policy.

Group Policy overrides any preference that you set in Remote Desktop Connection. When Terminal Services Group Policy prohibits drive sharing, you cannot share files between computers.

Cause: Terminal Services Group Policy does not allow clipboard sharing.

| Solution: Contact the network administrator about your Terminal Services Group Policy.

Group Policy overrides any preference that you set in Remote Desktop Connection. When Terminal Services Group Policy prohibits clipboard sharing, you cannot copy and paste data between computers.

### See also

Copy files between computers

Create and change connection files