Question

Unable to make an RDP connection to XP SP3

Asked by: regosnell

This computer can't connect to the remote computer. Try connecting again. If the problem continues, contact the owner of the remote computer or your network administrator."  This error comes up immediately (no wait for network timeout, etc.)

I tried just clicking on mstsc.exe and enter in the ip address and get the above message.  Added the /admin and get same message.  Saved a default.rdp file and used mstsc /admin default.rdp from a command prompt, I get same message.  This worked maybe three months ago.

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Asked On
2009-07-23 at 13:39:19ID24596061
Topics

Remote Desktop/Terminal Services

,

Virtual Private Networking (VPN)

,

Windows 2003 Server

Participating Experts
4
Points
500
Comments
35

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Answers

 

by: Jeff_RodgersPosted on 2009-07-23 at 13:53:09ID: 24929811

Any firewall issues... is the firewall turned on on the remote PC?  Is an exception enabled to allow Remote Desktop on the remote PC?

Is remote desktop enabled on the remote PC?

Any other firewall software in the way?

Always more questions... but sometimes we find the answers in the questions.

 

by: dstewartjrPosted on 2009-07-23 at 13:54:19ID: 24929825

modify the key

http://www.paleotechnologist.net/2009/01/aargh-xp-sp3-breaks-remote-desktop.html

 

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management]

"SessionImageSize"=dword:00000020

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-07-27 at 07:48:52ID: 24952135

Modifying the registry didn't do anything to help.

RDP was working after the SP3 install, but it seems like another of Microsoft's 'patches' may broke it somehow.

 

by: dstewartjrPosted on 2009-07-27 at 07:59:43ID: 24952252

Update your video drivers and try again, this has been a fix for me a couple of times already.

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-03 at 08:05:50ID: 25004984

Updated the video drive, no change in performance.

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-06 at 09:28:28ID: 25035300

Check the registry location:

HKLM\SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server

For key fDenyTSConnections and make sure it has a value of 0 that's zero

If it is it may just be worth running the system file checker run sfc /scannow

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-06 at 09:41:25ID: 25035435

demazter,

Thanks for helping.

1)  The registry key is set to zero

2)  Ran sfc /scannow and it didn't report anything

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-06 at 09:43:12ID: 25035456

Have you tried to re-install SP3?

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-06 at 09:47:33ID: 25035506

Ya' think I should first uninstall it?

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-06 at 09:49:44ID: 25035531

Yes and then re-apply it you never know it might just work! ;-)

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2009-08-06 at 14:40:55ID: 25038369

Question first..  is the PC you are trying to connect to within your network (or on the same subnet) or is it across a Public Domain?  (are you going through a Gateway to get to it?)

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 05:14:12ID: 25041842

I remvoed sp3 and tested, no change.
Removed all patches from 2009, no change.
Re-added sp3, no change.

Now in the process of re-adding my 2009 patches.

Fatal,
Thanks for helping.  The PC is within my network, two different vlan's

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:13:11ID: 25042277

Now fully patched and same error occurs.  If it weren't for the tons of support tools that I have on my system, I would just start my PC from scratch, but that's 20 or so hours, I prefer not to invest.

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:25:31ID: 25042387

Ok, click start > run > serviced.msc

find terminal serviced in the list is it set to manual or automatic?
Is it started?

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:32:53ID: 25042454

Can you also try the following:

telnet ipaddressofcomputerwithproblem 3389

what do you get back?

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:34:01ID: 25042470

It is set to manual.  when I try to start it, I get an error:

Could not start the Terminal Services service on Local Computer
Error 2: The system cannot find the specified file.

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:36:25ID: 25042500

What is the path to executable in the properties of the service?
I think we have found the problem

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:40:42ID: 25042537

When trying to telnet.  Could not open connection to the host, on port 3389: Connection Failed

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:41:27ID: 25042542

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost -k DComLaunch

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:42:12ID: 25042552

Have a look at HKEY_Local_Machine\System\currentcontrolset\services\termservice

the value of imagepath should read:

%systemroot%\system32\svchost.exe -k termsvcs

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:53:48ID: 25042657

I made the change, restarted the system.  I tried to start the service again, and I get the same error as before.  

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:54:59ID: 25042661

Check the path again?
Has it changed back?

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:56:32ID: 25042674

Nope, here is the path of the service since the registry change:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost -k termsvcs

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 06:57:19ID: 25042681

Sorry it should be -k netsvcs I was looking at a 2003 machine.

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:20:02ID: 25042925

Not a problem.  II thin kmy title is a bit vague.  I am trying to connect to a machine that is running XP Pr with SP3.

At least I am getting a different error message now:

Could not start the Terminal Service service on Local Computer.
Error 1083:  The executable program that this service is configured to run in does not implement the service.


Here is the path of the service:  C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost -k netsvcs

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:26:41ID: 25043024

Ok a bit odd I have just checked another xp machine and it is -k DComLaunch

can you set it back to this then try to start the service

also check the following services are started:

Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
Fast User Switching Capability

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:34:08ID: 25043106

When I got the new error, I did a search and found this MVP article:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/137/1/Error-1083-when-attempting-to-start-Terminal-Services-service-in-a-Windows-XP-Service-Pack-2-computer.html

I tried it and indeed ir did bring back the -k DComLaunch but it also change other things (what I am not sure), but sure enough, I can remote connect again.

Thanks demazter for all your help, and thanks to everyone else too.

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:35:49ID: 25043118

Excellent if nothing else at least I helped point you in the right direction.
More importantly it's now working!

 

by: demazterPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:36:53ID: 25043133

There is a link on the answers to accept multiple answer.

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:43:18ID: 25043207

My link to accept multiple answers is gone.  Moderator, can you unlock so I can accept multiples please?

Thank you.

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:43:33ID: 25043211

it looks like I could unlock.  

 

by: Fatal_ExceptionPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:46:23ID: 25043253

Well done, demazter!

 

by: regosnellPosted on 2009-08-07 at 07:48:19ID: 25043289

OK, I think I got it.  Thanks again everyone.  LIFE SAVERS!!

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