"Andrew" <andrew***@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:7d82d807-b42a-4e97-b8a9-66cbe4181312@j44g2000hsj.googlegroups.com...
> Hello there!
>
> I'm having a very unusual problem trying to connect to just one
> machine in an office via remote desktop.
>
> The client connects but then instantly disconnects (within a small
> fraction of a second), failing silently with no error message.
>
> If I connect using the standard Microsoft Remote Desktop client
> mstsc.exe from another Windows XP Professional or 2003 Server machine,
> when I hit the connect button the dialogue momentarily greys out as it
> starts connecting, and then after perhaps 0.2 seconds becomes
> available again, without any mention of an error or problem.  If I
> hold my finger down on the enter key it flies through greying out/
> ungreying out perhaps 5-10 times a second as it keeps connecting and
> disconnecting.
>
> I have tried the following:
>
> - The computer is Windows XP Professional SP2 with all updates
> applied.
> - The computer was cleanly installed a month ago.
> - I have restarted the computer about 58 times  (okay, slight
> exaggeration, but that one's ruled out).
> - The Terminal Services service is started on the computer.
> - The computer is listening on port 3389/tcp.
> - I can telnet to the computer successfully on port 3389 and type
> things into the window without the connection being broken.
> - The Windows XP Firewall on the computer is disabled.  Even when it
> is enabled, remote desktop is allowed and port 3389/tcp is allowed.
> - Under System Properties (sysdm.cpl) - Remote tab, both tick boxes
> are ticked.  I have gone through and selected two user accounts to
> have access - although apparently they already did anyway.
> - Both of the above user accounts have passwords set on them.
> - It is possible to log on to the machine locally using either of
> those user accounts.
> - VNC works fine on the computer
> - I have tried connecting locally (which doesn't work by design, but I
> still tried it)
> - I have tried connecting from other computers over a local network
> - I have forwarded a port to it (successfully) and tried connecting
> from the Internet.
> - There is not, and never has been, any other firewall software
> installed on the computer.
> - There has been, previously, the corporate version of Symantec AV
> installed on the computer - but I stress only the AV - we don't have
> or use the client firewall.  This has now been uninstalled and the
> computer restarted.
> - If I boot up a Knoppix Linux CD on a remote computer and try to
> connect in using rdesktop, an 800x600 window appears momentarily
> (again, for about 0.2 seconds) and then the program exits, again
> without error.  Using yet another remote desktop client, krdc, behaves
> similarly.
> - The computer is completely free of all spyware, viruses, trojans and
> other malware.
> - Nothing is logged in Event Viewer.
>
> I have carried out many Google searches on this problem and had no
> success at all.  If anyone can point me in the right direction I would
> be most grateful.  If I could see what actually happens on the
> offending computer when one tries to connect in - how far it gets and
> what error condition is tripped, that would be very useful.  Does
> Terminal Services have a debug log that can be enabled?
>
> Many many thanks for any help,
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Andrew King
> IT for APC Engineers Ltd, UK

> I would make sure the graphics drivers are up to date on each PC.
>
> --
>
> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows Networking)
>
> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
> mutual benefit of all of us...
> The MS-MVP Program -http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights...