Remote Desktop Services troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions / Tips & Tricks

The information in this FAQ is compiled from posts in various newsgroups and user forums. Thanks to all those posters who contributed with their knowledge!

FAQ sections: Installation | Server configuration | Client resources | User issues | Licensing | Printing | Connectivity | Profiles | Performance | Applications | Administration & Monitoring | More FAQS

1. I need to add an extra server to my Terminal Server farm. What is the easiest way to make sure that it is identical to the existing servers?
2. I need hotfix nnnnnn! Where can I download it?
3. Should I configure the server to optimize for applications or background processes?
4. Can I install Terminal Services from the commandline?

1. When starting TS Configuration on a W2008 TS, I get an error message: "The settings for this terminal server cannot be retrieved", or "Unable to complete operation: Not found"
2. How do I clear the user name from the logon dialog box?
3. How do I enforce the domain name in the logon dialog box?
4. How can I prevent my users from shutting down the Terminal Server?
5. How can I prevent my users from disconnecting from their session?
6. How can I configure the server to automatically kill disconnected sessions immediately?
7. How can I prevent my users from connecting to the full desktop of the server while deploying my applications through RemoteApp?
8. How can I configure different sets of RemoteApps, based on user group membership?
9. How can I configure different TS desktops, based on user group membership?
10. Can I limit most users to a single session, while allowing other users multiple sessions?
11. How can I enable the clock in the Taskbar for all remote sessions?
12. How can I remove the background image from the logon screen on my Dell server?
13. How can I configure a default wallpaper for my remote users?
14. How can I disable the notification beeps in a TS session?
15. How can I remove icons for Internet Explorer and Outlook Express from all user profiles?
16. How can I lock down my standalone TS with a local policy without locking down the Administrator account?

1. How can I verify that my local COM ports are redirected?
2. How can I prevent my users from redirecting their local resources, like drives and clip board?
3. How can I allow only a subset of my users to redirect their local printers and drives?
4. How can I copy files to my local disk drive from the command prompt / with a batch file?
5. How can I see the free disk space on my redirected local drive?
6. How can I prevent the security warning when I use local drive redirection?
7. How can I connect to my local scanner or digital camera in a TS session?
8. Can I use multiple monitors with my rdp session?
9. How can I roll out Custom ICA Connections to use with Citrix Program Neighboorhood to all my users?

1. Remote Desktop session window won't stay minimized
2. How do I get rid of the yellow connection bar?
3. When users start a program, they get an error message: "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."
4. When users start a program, they get a security warning: "The publisher could not be verified. Are you sure that you want to run this software?"
5. When users start a Remote Desktop Connection or a RemoteApp, they get a dialog box: "a Website wants to start a remote connection. The publisher of this remote connection cannot be identified."
6. Users cannot login and change their expired passwords through TS Gateway
7. How can I allow my left-handed users to configure their mouse buttons properly?
8. Extended characters with the right Alt key don't work

1. How do I choose between Per Device and Per User TS CALs?
2. Can I install 2008 TS CALs on my 2003 or W2K TS Licensing Server?
3. Can I install a 2008 Licensing Server as a member server in my W2K domain?
4. How do I know when the grace period will end?
5. I've installed licenses on my Licensing Server, but it still issues temporary ones. What's wrong?
6. How do I move my TS licenses to a new TS Licensing Server?
7. How can I see if a TS Licensing Server is installed as Enterprise or Domain LS?
8. How can I revoke an issued Per Device license to make it available for a new client?
9. How can I revoke an issued Per User license to make it available for a new user?
10. Expired TS CALs are not returned to the pool of available licenses
11. Can I use a single TS Licensing Server to issue TS CALs to Terminal Servers in multiple untrusted domains and workgroups?
12. How can I delete the MSLicensing key from a thin client?
13. How can I delete the MSLicensing key from a Macintosh client?
14. Some of my Macintosh users can connect, others can't, from the same Mac client. What's wrong?
15. How can I monitor my TS license database and get a warning when I'm running out of available licenses?

1. My printer spooler keeps crashing! How can I solve this?
2. Redirected printers are not deleted when users log off their rdp session
3. My users can see all redirected printers. How can I make them see only their own printers?
4. How can I turn off printer notifications for all users?
5. I want only specific printers to be redirected. Can this be done?
6. Can I remove the session number from the redirected printer name?
7. My old DOS application needs to print to LPT1. How can this be done?

1. How can I allow rdp connections from specific clients only?
2. RDP connections from a Vista client freeze or disconnect after some minutes
3. When I try to connect to a 2003 TS from my XP SP3 / Vista / Windows 7 client wit the latest RDP client, I get an error: "... Remote Desktop cannot verify the identity of the computer..."
4. When I try to connect to a 2008 TS from my XP SP3 client, I get an error: "The remote computer requires network level authentication..."
5. When I try to connect to a 2008 TS from my XP SP3 client via TS Web Access, I get an error: "ActiveX control not installed or not enabled."
6. Is it possible to connect to a 2008 TS from my XP SP3 client without having to enter my domain username and passsword for the second time?
7. My Terminal Server does not respond after a reboot. How do I solve this?

1. I am planning to move my Terminal Server to new hardware. How can I move the user profiles to the new server?
2. User profiles are filling up my C: drive. Can I move them to my D: drive?
3. Users' Temporary Internet Files are filling up my harddisk

1. How can I measure RDP bandwidth usage?
2. Can I enhance graphics performance by installing a better video card in the server?
3. How can I improve the quality of video in a TS session?

1. My application runs fine for Administrators, but not for normal users
2. My application runs only for the Administrator who installed the application, but not for normal users or other accounts with Administrator rights
3. User sessions don't logoff when users quit their starting or published application
4. How can I run a DOS application in full screen?
5. I need to have an application running on the console. How can I monitor it?
6. How can I prevent my users from surfing the Internet in their TS sessions?
7. When I try to installan application on my TS, I get an error message: "This machine is running Terminal Services in Application Server Mode. Applications are not available to install from the network in this mode."

1. How can I bypass Session Broker and directly logon to one of my Terminal Servers?
2. How can I remotely manage my 2008 Server Core server?
3. Terminal Services Administration tool starts minimized and can't be maximized
4. How can I use the Remote Desktops snap-in from 2003 Adminpak.msi without installing all the tools?
5. How can I restrict connections to my 2003 server to console sessions only?
6. How can I change which users or Administrators can connect to the console session?
7. How can I start a console session from a XP SP3 or Vista SP1 client?
8. How can I start a console session from a Macintosh RDC client?
9. Can I start a console session from my PDA?
10. How can my script / application detect if a Windows 2003 server is in Remote Administration or Application Server mode?
11. How can my script / application detect if Remote Desktop for Administration is enabled on a Windows 2003 server?
12. How can my script / application detect if a Windows 2008 server is configured for Remote Administration or running the Terminal Server role service?
13. How can my script / application detect if Remote Desktop for Administration is enabled on a Windows 2008 server?
14. How can my script / application detect the licensing mode of a Windows 2003 or 2008 Server?
15. How can my script / application detect if it is running in a Terminal Services client session?
16. How can my script / application retrieve the session id of the session it is running in?
17. How can I retrieve the client IP number?
18. How can I track which users are logging on to my Terminal Server?
19. How can I retrieve the total number of sessions on my Terminal Server?
20. How can I remotely kill disconnected sessions?
21. How can I kill all active sessions at a specific time?
22. How can I Remote Control my Windows XP SP2 client from within Terminal Services Manager?
23. How can I Remote Control my Windows 2000 Pro / Vista Home client?
24. How can I Remote Control my Macintosh client?

• Microsofts Terminal Services FAQ
• Vista Remote Desktop Connection Authentication FAQ
• Windows Terminal Services Frequently Asked Questions - thethin.net
• SBC / Citrix FAQ - by Thomas Koetzing
• Terminal Services FAQ - WindowsITPro
• Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Desktop