Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) to the console session
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One of the things that I’ve seen people asking is for the option to logon to a Windows PC or a Server and use the current session on that system for the same user instead of creating a new Terminal Server session.
There is way this can be done. For instance, on my PC, I simply created a shortcut for the Remote Desktop (RDP) on the “Start Menu” and renamed the shortcut to “RDP Console”. This is for ease of use. One shortcut for my normal RDP sessions and one where I need to use local current session on the remote server.
All you need to do is to edit the properties of the shortcut and the -console option.
For instance, in my case, right-click and select properties and change from
“%SystemRoot%\system32\mstsc.exe”
to
“%SystemRoot%\system32\mstsc.exe – console”
The -console switch will simply allow you to connect to your local session on the server (remember you should login as the user who is logged on the server)
This should help. Hope you liked it!!!
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Thank you, it worked! I’ve been looking for this for ages now
That doesn’t work, try adding /admin to the end instead.
Thanks Andy the -console switch didn’t work but /Admin did.
It use to be /console but I believe they changed it in Windows XP SP3 to be /Admin.
Thanks! I was unaware of the /console session! Makes it much easier to manage rdp’s.
thanks.
Hi,
You can connect to console session of any Remote server by:
1. Go to Stat Menu > Run
2. mstsc /v: ServerName /Console
Happy working….
Regards,
Abhishek
If you are running Vista and would like to get both the desktop background to appear and work in “admin” mode, it looks like you have to A) Create a .rdp file using the Remote Desktop Connection Manager (Save As…), making sure to check the Desktop Background box in the Experience tab, and B) Edit this .Rdp file using Notepad to include the following line:
administrative session:i:1
Hi All,
mstsc is Windows Remote Desktop connection executable file,
-v indicates a server to connect to,
/F indicates full screen mode (optional),
-console is the instruction to connect to the console session.
For example: mstsc -v:192.168.1.2 /F -console
This works for me fine.
Cheers
Octacular Musteline
Hi
using an administrator account, I’m able to log on to the console session of windows 2003 server. But if I use a non administrator account, it errors out saying only administrator can log on to the console session.
Please guide me that what setting I have to change so that a non administrator can log on to the console session.
Thanks,
meg
I have Win 7 RDP to Win 7. I have tried “/Admin”, “/console”, “-admin”, and “console”
What I am tryng to to is basically Automatic “remote Assistance” wherein the user logged on to that machine ca also interact with the same session. But I cannot see to get this to connect without forcing the local user off. Anyway to do this with RDP?
I am unable to log on to the console session of my Windows 2000 Advance server. Does this trick only work for Windows 2003? Anybody knows how to make it work for Windows 2000 server.
I have Win 7 RDP to Win 7. I have tried “/Admin”, “/console”, “-admin”, and “console”
What I am tryng to to is basically Automatic “remote Assistance” wherein the user logged on to that machine ca also interact with the same session. But I cannot see to get this to connect without forcing the local user off. Anyway to do this with RDP?
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM!
Hey Kashif! You cannot use the administrator without logging off the user. The only way is to log on as this user (with his username & password) and try to help him as long as he has administrative rights. The command is “mstsc /admin “(Note the space after mstsc).Another way and very fast is to use a utility called “teamviewer” were you can connect to the remote computer on the same session. The user will be able to see your work progress, even interact. I used this utility many times and is really good! Only thing is that you both must download this utility, cause is working under secure channel and has password authentication. No need to install, just run it…
Hope that was helpful for you… Happy new beer!!
Sorry.. msg was for Dan’s problem..
/Console works on Server 2008