Remote Desktop Connection Won't Start

We use Remote Desktop on our Windows XP computer for work with our business, but today, all of a sudden, clicking the icon will not start the connection prompt up. Nothing shows up at all. MSTSC.exe is listed under processes, but it isn't actually open. Since we now don't have the ability to do work, this is a pretty big problem.

Anyone know what's wrong?

 

have you installed or made any significant changes to your system lately?

You can try cleaning your registry or doing a system restore to an earlier date

 

I know this is a simple question but: Have you tried rebooting the machine?

Can you remote from another machine? Are the services that Remote Desktop depends on running?

Try killing the MSTSC task and clicking the icon again. If none of that works, I agree with flipfire, system restore to a point that it worked.

 

This may sound odd, but indulge me.

What icon?

There is the remote desktop "client" and then there are rdp files, which are often placed on desktops as icons. These RDP files are really just connection settings stored in text files that open the remote desktop connection. (go ahead, open one in notepad).

When you say "We use Remote Desktop on our Windows XP computer for work with our business, but today, all of a sudden..." you make it sound like you are clicking on an icon on multiple desktops. (I may be reading too much into that).

If it is happening on multiple desktops, it is likely the saved settings are no longer correct. So clicking on these "saved settings" icons results in "remote desktop" not working. In reality, the problem is in your server. Either Terminal Services service is malfunctioning or a setting was changed there.

Do you have access to the server?

 

It's just one computer. I have already tried system restore, rebooting, searching for the actual executable, since only a shortcut is on the desktop, and also cleaning the registry. I don't have access to the server myself, either. I have also tried reinstalling Remote Desktop, but downloading it from Microsoft's site gives me the message that it is "already built-in to this version of Windows," while trying to add it through the Add/Remove Windows Components screen gives me an error that it can't find a file, even though it's right there on the screen when I go to Browse. I'm sure that's just a stupid Windows problem though.

 

Let's NOT use the desktop icon, as I suspect it is corrupt

Start > all programs > accessories > communication > remote desktop

Put in the remote computer name, hit enter

enter your username and password

 

That doesn't work. I've also searched every single area for MSTSC.exe and remote desktop. None of the resulting icons work.

 

right click MY COMPUTER, choose MANAGE, choose SERVICES

Make sure that REMOTE PROCEDURE CALL and TERMINAL SERVICES services are set to automatic

 

I tried that, but no luck. Any other ideas?

 

System Restore?

 

I've already tried that.

 

I have the *exact* same issue as Mr. Wonderful and have been through all of the same procedures (multiple reboots and system restores, attempt to download new RDC from Microsoft, etc.).

My problem started when SP3 started to install and then froze on my machine. After waiting about 18 hours I eventually had to reboot. This is the only issue except that about 1 in 3 boots my system hangs at the blue screen immediately after the XP splash.

 

Have you made any changes to the configurations of your network interfaces recently? I would check to make sure that the appropriate protocols, clients, and services are still installed under your interface configurations.

 

I am having the same problem (and the I believe that the cause is the same as Wult's (the SP3 failed installation)). But try this and see if it works:

mstsc -v:<IP or Computer Name> -console
Ex: mstsc -v:192.168.1.100 -console

or

mstsc -v:<IP or Computer Name> -admin

Best of luck!!

 

what the hell, man? why'd this work?

i was having the SAME EXACT issue, along with other internet explorer/outlook/etc. problems. but this still works! what gives?

 

To resolve this issue you must have a copy of your Windows XP installation CD. If you do not have this to hand please DO NOT follow these instructions yet, as they will screw up your PC:

1. Open a command prompt ( Start > Run > cmd)
2. At the command prompt move into your Windows installation directory (usually c:\windows) using: cd \windows
3. From that directory enter the following command to delete all mstsc related items: del mstsc* /s
Several files will be deleted
4. A few seconds later Windows will automatically pop-up a warning that some critical system files have been removed. At this point insert your Windows XP installation CD and Windows will automatically re-install the required files, restoring / recovering whatever's wrong. The pop-up warning will automatically disappear, and if your CD has auto-run the XP Installation menu you can just exit it (you don't need to run anything manually from the CD, Windows takes care of it all).

Note: If you do not have a Windows Installation CD it may be possible to recover these system critical files by installing mstsc manually which can be downloaded from support.microsoft.com/kb/925876, but I haven't tried that so can't recommend it either way.