Remote Desktop won't connect as console

[Bill Board]

I just installed the most up todate Server 2003 admin tools. I have "Connect
to console" check. I've also tried

mstsc -v:servername /F -console

and that didn't work etiher. It keeps wanting to start a new session. Our
other admin can do this fine. Anyone have this issue??

We are running Enterprise Server 2003 SP2.

[Bill Board]

After more research I found an article that says that Window XP SP3 remove
the ability to connect via the switch -console and now you have to use
/admin

I tried "mstsc /admin" and it worked. I'm not sure why this did this nor
what I should do with the remote desktop snap-in that still doesn't work.

[Robert L. \(MS-MVP\)]

XP SP and Vista use mstsc /admin for remote access console only and the
remote desktop snap-in that still doesn't work for the console any more.

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

XP SP3 has RDP 6.1. RDP 6.0 is as high as Server 2003 will go at the
moment. But! Try my hack for RDP 6.1:

1. Download the RDP 6.1 Client for XP SP2 here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

2. Open a session of Windows Explorer and then run the
WindowsXP-KB952155-x86-ENU.exe installer.

3. It's going to pop up a message and complain that this is not the
right OS, blah blah blah, ignore it, do not press OK to close the
error message. Browse to C:\ and look for some
folder called 5243lk52h3jhkj243hlj452j4klh or some such crazy name.
Copy all the files from ..\SP2QFE and put them in some folder called
RDP6.1 or whatever you want. Rename lhmstsc.mui to lhmstsc.exe.mui.
Now, run lhmstsc from that folder. RDP 6.1 on Server 2003, who'd a
thunk it. Let me know if it helps you.

[RemyMaza]

Does connecting to the console session allow the screen to be viewed
or does it lock it? Can you use .rdp and allow the remote machine's
screen to be viewed?

[redwraith94]

It locks the screen if you are looking at a monitor connected to the server:

In Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the console session (session 0) is a noninteractive session that is reserved for services. So the /admin switch, or /console switch does not work regardless, and it is ignored.

Running mstsc /console was the same as having:
connect to console:i:1 in the rdp file (Version 5 of mstsc)

Running mstsc /admin is the same as having:
administrative session:i:1 in the rdp file (Version 6.x of mstsc)

These ONLY work if you are connecting to a 2003 based server, if you are connecting to a 2008 based server the 'console session' cannot be logged into at all.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947723