[dba-VB] Initial start of remote desktop fails - Windows 2003

I also use LogMeIn for some clients (at their insistence).  It has "issues" such as:

1) It costs money for the "good" version
2) It insists on retaining the focus at the wrong times
3) It insists on NOT retaining the focus at the right times

If I am in LogMeIn and I hit Alt-Tab it does NOT switch between the open applications on the remote 
computer but instead moves me back to the next app on my machine.  My brain is trained to use 
alt-tab to move from one app to another on the desktop and I am CONSTANTLY switching back to my 
local computer instead of switching to the next app on the remote computer.  It is TOTALLY annoying 
to have to (remember to and) pick up the mouse to click on the other application that I want to use 
on the remote computer.

OTOH (using dual monitors here at the office) if I click into an application back in my other 
monitor it leaves LogMeIn kinda sorta mostly in control of the main (big) monitor.  If I want to use 
any of the other applications "underneath" LogMeIn on the main monitor I have to intentionally 
minimize LogMeIn so that I can see the tool bar (and thus the other apps) on the main monitor.

Let me just say that I HATE LogMeIn.  Yes, LogMeIn works, and when a gun is held to my head I use it.

However it is NOT remote desktop.  It does not ACT LIKE remote desktop.  Remote desktop acts like 
Windows in every sense, EXACTLY like Windows in every sense, because it IS Windows in every sense, 
not some browser trying to act like Windows.  Given my druthers I will install Hamachi on the remote 
then use RD over that Hamachi VPN.  Works great!

Back to my issue, RD is not SUPPOSE TO require "the remote user to be logged in himself".  In fact 
RD (on Windows 2003) has TWO available remote sessions available and BOTH are usable remotely.  You 
are SUPPOSED to be able to boot the server, NEVER LOG IN LOCALLY and RD in from two different 
clients.  I know this because my client in CT uses one login from her home and I use the other login 
from here in NC.

So it is an issue with my server (or something), not an issue with RD specifically.

I just thought maybe someone else had seen this and figured out how to fix it.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com


Charlotte Foust wrote:
> We've taken to using LogMeIn with our clients because it offers remote features as well as other modes, including one that doesn't require the client to be logged in himself.  I don't use it personally, but our support analyst uses it all the time so he can see what the client is actually doing or try to reproduce a problem on their machines.
> 
> Charlotte Foust
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dba-vb-bounces at databaseadvisors.com [mailto:dba-vb-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby
> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 10:37 AM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving; VBA; Sqlserver-Dba
> Subject: [dba-VB] Initial start of remote desktop fails - Windows 2003
> 
> I use RD to work on the servers in my office from my laptop in my office (entirely within my LAN). 
> When I attempt to connect RD, it fails completely and always if I have not first logged in to the 
> server manually, through the keyboard / mouse connected to that machine.  IOW I have to use my KVM 
> switch to physically see the machine, AND log in, THEN RD will work from my laptop.
> 
> If I use the KVM to go to the physical machine and log out, RD from the laptop will continue to work 
> IF ALREADY CONNECTED, but will fail if I close the RD session and try to RD back in.
> 
> IOW RD simply cannot connect if there is not already a user logged in.
> 
> Additionally, once I have done that manual / initial login to the physical machine, RD will fail the 
> first time I try it.  I have to try to connect, immediately cancel that attempt, then try it again 
> and then it connects right in.  I can close the RD session and start it again, no problem (as long 
> as that other user is still connected).
> 
> So... has anyone seen this behavior?  Has anyone seen a solution to that problem such that RD will 
> work first time / every time, regardless of anything?
>