Can I stop Remote Desktop from locking host?

External Since: Sep 21, 2007 Posts: 4

Is there any way that I can stop Remote Desktop from locking the host
machine, or perhaps get it to automatically unlock the host after the remote
access?

I'm trying to run automated regression tests (using HP's "QuickTest
Professional") on the host machine, but people around the world need to be
able to remote into the machine and then just close the Remote Desktop window
when they're done. If they do this, the host has the locked message up on
the screen and GUI tests then fail because the windows aren't able to show on
the screen.

One solution to this is using VNC, but there are security flaws that make
this an unwise choice (according to our Info Security dept).

Another solution is to use "PC Anywhere", but this (according to Symantec)
doesn't work with virtual machines, which is something we're moving towards.

Another solution is to use WebEx's "Access Anywhere", but for the way that
we want to use our connections, this could be an expensive solution.

Another solution is to use a ShareWare product I've found called "Remote
Desktop Control", but I don't know how keen our company would be to use
'unknown shareware'.

Another solution is to use NetMeeting, but it's clunky and requires a
username, password and domain name to be typed each time you connect.

One thought I had was to write something in VBScript that unlocks the host,
since I know what the username and password is, of course, but I can't work
out how to do that, even after a day of researching the web.

So..... any ideas anyone please?!

Thanks,
Graham

External Since: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 883

In news:FE640A3E-2209-45ED-8A48-8961CD5FF2F5@microsoft.com,
SonicForce wrote:
> Is there any way that I can stop Remote Desktop from locking
> the host
> machine, or perhaps get it to automatically unlock the host
> after the remote
> access?
>
> I'm trying to run automated regression tests (using HP's
> "QuickTest
> Professional") on the host machine, but people around the
> world need to be
> able to remote into the machine and then just close the
> Remote Desktop window
> when they're done. If they do this, the host has the locked
> message up on
> the screen and GUI tests then fail because the windows aren't
> able to show on
> the screen.
>
> One solution to this is using VNC, but there are security
> flaws that make
> this an unwise choice (according to our Info Security dept).
>
> Another solution is to use "PC Anywhere", but this (according
> to Symantec)
> doesn't work with virtual machines, which is something we're
> moving towards.
>
> Another solution is to use WebEx's "Access Anywhere", but for
> the way that
> we want to use our connections, this could be an expensive
> solution.
>
> Another solution is to use a ShareWare product I've found
> called "Remote
> Desktop Control", but I don't know how keen our company would
> be to use
> 'unknown shareware'.
>
> Another solution is to use NetMeeting, but it's clunky and
> requires a
> username, password and domain name to be typed each time you
> connect.
>
> One thought I had was to write something in VBScript that
> unlocks the host,
> since I know what the username and password is, of course,
> but I can't work
> out how to do that, even after a day of researching the web.
>
> So..... any ideas anyone please?!
>
> Thanks,
> Graham

I don't know how you can work this into your situation, but
I'll pass it along. The following command can be run on the
remote computer and it will leave the system unlocked with the
account that was used during the remote session logged on.

tscon.exe 0 /dest:console

I connect remotely to my XP Pro system using the credentials of
the main account on that machine. I created a batch file that
runs that command and placed it in the C:\Windows folder of the
remote computer. The batch file is named Disconnect.bat. I then
put a shortcut to the batch file in the All Users\Desktop
folder. I also changed the shortcut's icon to match the one for
"Turn Off Computer" on the Start menu.

Instead of closing the remote desktop connection on my local
computer, I double click the shortcut on the remote computer to
end the session.

Good luck

Nepatsfan