Remote Desktop: The client could not connect to the remote computer

I have 2 servers on the same network both running Windows Server 2003
Standard. I can connect via Remote Desktop Connection from an XP
Professional workstation to one but not the other. The one that isn't
working gives me the following message:
"Remote Desktop Disconnected. The client could not connect to the remote
computer. Remote connections might not be enabled or the computer might be
too busy to accept new connections. It is also possible that network
problems are preventing your connection. Please try connecting again later.
If the problem continues to occur, contact your administrator."
I enabled Remote Desktop the same way on both machines -- the machine that
is NOT working is also running Windows Firewall (the machine that IS working
is NOT running Windows Firewall). Thinking this might be the difference, I
disabled the firewall, however the same problem occurs.

I am the only admin of these servers, so noone else would be connected to
either of them. Also, I've tried this numerous times on different days and
times, and I always get the same error message.

Does anyone have any ideas on what might be causing this problem?

Assuming you have enable RDC on the server, can you RDC to itself?

Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
"crazyglue" <crazyglue@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9D573721-050F-4FBA-99FE-11FE3B904E02@microsoft.com...
I have 2 servers on the same network both running Windows Server 2003
Standard. I can connect via Remote Desktop Connection from an XP
Professional workstation to one but not the other. The one that isn't
working gives me the following message:
"Remote Desktop Disconnected. The client could not connect to the remote
computer. Remote connections might not be enabled or the computer might be
too busy to accept new connections. It is also possible that network
problems are preventing your connection. Please try connecting again later.
If the problem continues to occur, contact your administrator."
I enabled Remote Desktop the same way on both machines -- the machine that
is NOT working is also running Windows Firewall (the machine that IS working
is NOT running Windows Firewall). Thinking this might be the difference, I
disabled the firewall, however the same problem occurs.

I am the only admin of these servers, so noone else would be connected to
either of them. Also, I've tried this numerous times on different days and
times, and I always get the same error message.

Does anyone have any ideas on what might be causing this problem?

I am having a similar issue. But my servers had RDP working for months
before hand. Now 3 of the 10 servers won't allow RDP connections after
installing Microsoft's December patches. I don't know if the same thing
could be affecting you.

Interesting thought. No, it can't. I get the same error message.

"Robert L [MS-MVP]" wrote:

> Assuming you have enable RDC on the server, can you RDC to itself?
>
> Bob Lin, MS-MVP, MCSE & CNE
> Networking, Internet, Routing, VPN Troubleshooting on http://www.ChicagoTech.net
> How to Setup Windows, Network, VPN & Remote Access on http://www.HowToNetworking.com
> "crazyglue" <crazyglue@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9D573721-050F-4FBA-99FE-11FE3B904E02@microsoft.com...
> I have 2 servers on the same network both running Windows Server 2003
> Standard. I can connect via Remote Desktop Connection from an XP
> Professional workstation to one but not the other. The one that isn't
> working gives me the following message:
> "Remote Desktop Disconnected. The client could not connect to the remote
> computer. Remote connections might not be enabled or the computer might be
> too busy to accept new connections. It is also possible that network
> problems are preventing your connection. Please try connecting again later.
> If the problem continues to occur, contact your administrator."
> I enabled Remote Desktop the same way on both machines -- the machine that
> is NOT working is also running Windows Firewall (the machine that IS working
> is NOT running Windows Firewall). Thinking this might be the difference, I
> disabled the firewall, however the same problem occurs.
>
> I am the only admin of these servers, so noone else would be connected to
> either of them. Also, I've tried this numerous times on different days and
> times, and I always get the same error message.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas on what might be causing this problem?
>

uh-oh... same problem here. only one of two w2k3 servers won't allow remote
desktop connections. port 3389 just not listening. might try re-assigning
RDP port in Reg to see. cant telnet to 3389 either. RDP-TCP not disabled in
TSCC.msc either. services seem fine. fortunately, i can use Dameware Mini
Remote Control to get desktop, but of course only cuz uses different port!

Is the server that is not connecting a new machine? I had the same trouble and it wasn't until I went to my power settings and set my "Turn Hard Disk off to NEVER." before I could connect. The default was set to 1 hour. You may have been trying after the hard disk shut down by itself.

On Feb 23, 9:02 pm, Joseph fantozzi <Joseph.fantozzi.
3o2...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote:

This is a known issue following some security patches from December.
On initial reboot after applying the patches, terminal services is
disabled, and if you go into Administrative Tools/Services the option
to change the startup type is greyed out. I run 30 2003 servers at a
datacentre and found the only option was to logon to another machine
which hadn't been rebooted and issue a remote shutdown -r to the
affected server. The second reboot cures the problem.
AFAIK Microsoft have done nothing about this issue, but it is
mentioned numerous times in various forums if you do a google.

Alister