Problem with Remote Desktops after applying XP SP3

[PeroB]

With XP SP2 I had no problems with Remote Desktops (Terminal Services)
whatsoever. If I connect to a remote server I was able to see its desktop
just as if I was logged on locally. All icons are exactly where they should
be. If MS Word was running on it I could read the document and edit it if
need be. If I start an application in terminal mode and walk over to the
server I could see it running. My terminal window was exact replica of the
desktop on a remote server.

Now with XP SP3 applied that is all gone. Icons on terminal window are
auto-arranged, I can't see any running applications, etc. No joy with
re-installing Remote Desktops from Admin Pack for Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2.
Same thing with installing it on a test PC with nothing but Windows XP Pro
SP3.

Any ideas how to sort this out?

Thanks in advance.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Did you read the Release Notes or White Paper?
• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929
•
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...2-8BFAC9ED416B
•
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...1/relnotes.htm

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3

=> WinXP-specific newsgroup: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general

[Han]

(Since I use this on my XP machine, it was of interest to me, but with
all the difficulties with SP3, and it being "merely" a compilation of
previously issued hotfixes, I think I'll pass on installing SP3)

You meant this?
http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...d5a-40d3-a802-
e4057aa8c631/relnotes.htm#ID0EGD

Remote Desktop Connection

If you have installed the prerelease version of Remote Desktop Client 6.1
(KB 937468), and then install Windows XP SP3, the desktop will
continuously display the text "For testing purposes only. Build
2600.xp_sp2_gdr…", and you will not be able to uninstall KB 937468 using
Add/Remove Programs.

To avoid this, uninstall KB 937468 before you install Windows XP SP3.

If you have already encountered this issue, follow these steps to remove
the test certificate that is responsible for the text message being
displayed.
To remove the test certificate

1. Click Start, click Run, type certmgr.msc, and then press ENTER.
2. In the list that appears, find and expand the Trusted Root
Certification Authority folder.
3. Within the Trusted Root Certification Authority folder, find and
expand the Certificates folder.
4. In the right pane, find and delete all entries named Microsoft
Test Root Authority.
5. Restart the computer.

[PeroB]

PA Bear, thank you for your response.
And yes, I did. Please note that I am not using, or had it installed at any
point, pre-release version of Remote Desktop client v.6.1 (KB937468). On my
PC I have two Remote Desktop clients:
* mstsc.exe which is located in C:\Windows\Sustem32 and accessed from
Start\All Programs\Accessories. File info shows version 6.0.6001.18000
* Remote Desktops installed by Windows Server 2003 SP2 Administration Tools
Pack

Mstsc.exe has identical version both on my production and test PC. Again,
test PC only has clean XP install with SP3 applied to it and Win2k3 R2 SP2
Admin Pack - nothing else. And I still have the same results as on my
production PC.

Windows XP SP3 installed is not beta version or release candidate. I am
using Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT
Professionals and Developers, released on 06-May-2008, file version
6.2.0029.0 (SRV03_QFE.031113-0918).

Sorry if I am missing something but with this setup Remote Desktops should
be working as before?

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Free unlimited installation and compatibility support is available for
Windows XP, but only for Service Pack 3 (SP3), until 14 Apr-09. Chat and
e-mail support is available only in the United States and Canada.

• US:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• CA:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• UK:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• AU:
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...3&gprid=522131

• Other: http://support.microsoft.com/oas/def...spx?gprid=1173 | select
Windows XP | select Windows XP Service Pack 3

[doncarriere]

The problem is that MSTSC.exe from XP SP3 has replaced the /console parameter with /Admin and Remote Desktops has not been updated to use /admin. It is still using /console. The following command line will work with XP SP3 "mstsc.exe /v:208.216.233.140 -f /Admin" or you can copy mstsc.exe and mstscax.dll from an XP SP2 machine and replace the ones in your c:\Windows\system32

[Don Carriere]

The problem is that MSTSC no longer uses /console parameter. It has been changed to /Admin and Remote Desktops has not been updated to use the new switch. You can copy MSTSC.exe and mstscax.dll from an XP SP2 machine and replace the ones in c:\Windows\system32 or use this command line "mstsc.exe /v:x -f /Admin" Replacing x with the ip address or hostname of your server.

[SamFromAbove]

"... use this command line "mstsc.exe /v:x -f /Admin" Replacing x..." does not solve the problem, the error of non-connection persists.

Putting old (SP2) mstsc stuff into System32 and running it under a SP3 machine results in error popup "The Terminal Services ActiveX control (mstscax.dll) does not match the version of the client shell" rendering the mstsc program on the local machine useless.