Enabling Multiple Remote Desktop Sessions in Windows XP Professional and Media Center Edition 2005
October 18th, 2005 - 295 CommentsIf you have ever used a real remote computer system like Citrix, then you have probably been craving multiple Remote Desktop sessions since you first fired up Windows XP Professional and/or Media Center Edition. Here is a HACK (translated: USE AT YOUR OWN RISK), to enable multiple Remote Desktop sessions on your XP Pro or MCE 2005 box:
NOTE: You will have to have knowledge of the Windows operating system and more specifically the Windows Registry. If you have no experience with the registry, then I would recommend you find someone who does or leave these alone. I do not make any kind of warranty that this will work for you or your friends. This is provided for entertainment purposes only. Don’t call me if your computer stops working. Got it?
- Print these directions so that you have them to work from.
- Restart your computer in Safe Mode – Follow this link to learn how to restart Windows XP in Safe Mode
- Turn off/disable Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) and Terminal Services
- Right click My Computer
- Select Properties
- Click on the Remote tab at the top of the window
- UNCHECK the box next to, “Allow users to connect remotely to this computer“
- Click OK
- Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services
- Find Terminal Services in the list
- Right click on Terminal Services and click Properties
- In the Startup Type box, select Disabled
- Click OK to close the window
- Here is a copy of the Terminal Services DLL – Save it to your Desktop or other suitable location
- Using a file manager like Windows Explorer open C:\Windows\system32\dllcache
- Rename the file termsrv.dll to termsrv_dll.bak or whatever you would like.
- Copy the downloaded termsrv.dll file (the one you just downloaded from the web) to C:\Windows\system32\dllcache
- Open the C:\Windows\system32 folder
- Delete the file termsrv.dll in C:\Windows\system32
You should be good to go.
Great hack.
The functionality of the manager (user tab in taskmanager) is the same as the Terminal Service Manager in 2003server.
Limitation is max 3 sessions and Netware send popup from 1 user gets on the screen of all users.
Thanx for this hack and keep up the good work!
Hmmm Thinserver XP is having a Christmas sale now. Those still unable to enable RDP might wanna check out their site at :-
http://www.aikotech.com/thinserver.htm
worked for me! thanks for the tips.
how about on Vista, anybody had success?
Is there a reason for why everything but the place where you make the change setting to (2) not be there. All other setting were there, but just that. hmmm…I was thinking possibley due to an windowsupdate or service pack update. please let me know.
praveen
nevamind…situation corrected..
Works like a charm but:
- copy the dll to system32 to. I renamed both old dll to bak.
Taking over the session of the other users doesnt work here.
Like when someone is logged in you usualy can click the user and say take over. In case you need to assist.
I declare what kind of key stroke i have to make to disconnect from them and… nothing.
So I installed vnc next.
Multiple users under xp, well vnc doesnt see it as a second or third screen.
Normaly i would connect like:
XP_SP2_PC:0 (main screen)
XP_SP2_PC:1 (second screen/user logon)
vnc will not load in the the other users. ok one minus point if whe add the thing up.
I am using Windows 64 bit s system since the computer that wee arranges use of 8 gb of RAM and I need use all of the memory. We are many users and wee want to use it all of us at the same time.
have any got a program like Termiserv_XPSP2_i386_1.0 patch for windows xp 64 bit system? or other solution for xp 64 bits sp2?
Thank you very much
if you know any of this send my an e-mail to fbuezas@gmail.com
Hi Everyone,
Got it working for xp 64 bit with instructions.
http://popcopy.blogspot.com/2008/12/enable-multi-user-concurrent-logon-for.html
Dear friend,
Thank you so much for multiple remote desktop solution. It is great. I have done that on a computer with Windows XP SP2. I can connect to the server remotly but after few minutes and some times few seconds the connection is getting lose and the server is logging off also. Please advice me what is the problem urgently. Many thanks in addvance, Ali
To Netter
U are a spammer aren’t ya?
U told people to try this software for over 10 times here…
If this software is so amazing than why do you need to advertise so much???
Have a good day…
BTW.. Nice hack
I’ve followed all the steps as described.
There was no termsrv.dll in dllcache, so I replaced the one in System32 (as mentioned by other posters).
I’ve rebooted and checked the version and it is still the replaced one (…2055).
However, I still get the same response that I got before I made any changes. i.e. I’m limited to a single user.
Any suggestions?
Hello,
Just a little ” hello ” from France.
I’ve try the multisession on XP PRo with the version 2180 of termserv.dll, it’s great !
Few connections in same times, just what i need.
Thank you for all people working on this project.
Good bye
Hi All,
I used windows xp with SP3
Done the required step to allow multiple logins but not success.
Can somebody tell me whether it works with the version of windows i have in place?
if not thus the replacement of the dll file create problelm during the daily activities on the machine?
Quick reply is highly expected.
look here FOR sp3 http://www.sentrix.com.au/Download/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2fDownload%2fSoftware&FolderCTID=&View=%7b8D2CD3D6%2dBCDE%2d4623%2d9154%2d15352EA27E32%7d
You must note two things:
1. After deleting the termsrv.dll from C:\Windows\system32 you must put the new one.
2. You must use the Fast User Switching
If you don’t pay attention to this the hack won’t work.
I have 2 SP3 pc’s and it worked fine on one pc and it did not work the other pc. But try again…make a system restore to the day before you changed the setting and try again.
I my case there was no termsrv.dll in the dllcache folder, so I put the new dll file in the systel32 folder AND the dllcachefolder. If not, i had a 126 error.
Now i am testing on the the 3th SP3 Xp computer…we will see.
Hi All!
I have tried and it works for Win Xp but I need an urgent solution for windows 2003 enterprise edition.
I can connect 2 users which is obvious. Terminal server trial has now expired.
SO ANY SOLUTION TO GET UNLIMTED REMOTE DESKTOPS IN WINDOWS 2003 WITHOUT BUYING TERMINAL SERVICES.
THANKS
I am using xp2 on a intel celeron laptop.
my query is,the above mentioned hack says,
open C:\Windows\system32\dllcache
Rename the file termsrv.dll to termsrv_dll.bak or whatever you would like.
Copy the downloaded termsrv.dll file (the one you just downloaded from the web) to C:\Windows\system32\dllcache
Open the C:\Windows\system32 folder
Delete the file termsrv.dll in C:\Windows\system32,
But i have read another article on
http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/lofiversion/index.php/t15961.html.
kindly read the hack given on the above url,
http://www.golod.com/2005/10/enabling-multiple-remote-desktop-sessions-in-windows-xp-professional-and-media-center-edition-2005/“.
Actually i am getting confused,which hack shall i use,currently i have tried the steps given on this url on my laptop.after doing these steps i couldnt connect the laptop machine from my desktop where the configuration are done.
an error of 126 occur.
file termsrv.dll has to be deleted from system32\,as per given in this configuration on this url.
later i did copied the termser.dll file in system32\,now i can connect RDC to the laptop machine from desktop machine.
But,when i log on to the laptop machine,RDC gets disconnected.so i suppose the hack is not working properly on my laptop.
Also do i have to install a different program of terminal services DLL,to run RDC for multiple users.
My purpose of RDC is just to keep a track on office pc`s and internet cafe`s wher we have provided internet connections.
Actually i run an internet network in a radius of 7 Kms,with 300 above customer and 22 internet cafe`s.
Kindly help me,also guide me if i am going wrong in doing the configurations.
This works with user fast switch only. If your XP machine is on a domain this does not work.
Just an FYI.
Thank you!! very good instructions and easy to follow. It is working perfectly on tinyxp rev09 (03)
It is unfortunatelly not working.. I did everyting but it still needs to log of the sessions on the XP machine… how is this possible? Who can help
Don’t work. Now I can’t even connect to this computer using remote desktop anymore. My system is windows xp pro sp3.
I have a question as I am pretty new to networking. Will this allow me to have 2 remote c omputers access the host computer at the same time without logging each other off? I am looking to have 2 computer cash registers run at the same time using a host computers drive that has all the inventory and program so both remotes need to be able to access and run the same program from the host at the same time without logging one or the other of. Or if this will not work what can i do to do so? A program of some sort?
This link helped me
http://alonbilu.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/enabling-multiple-concurrent-remote-sessions-on-windows-xp-sp3-patched-file-included/
This working perfectly in windows xp pro sp3. I only ignore the dllcache step.
Hi Dude! everything i did, but my terminal service could not start,when i try to start its getting “error 126 service could not start”..Pls help me ASAP..How can i resolve this error?
Thx bud
works like a charm
hey thanks buddy.. it worked for me too..
I just tried it once… and resolved my issue.. I am now able to provide any number of remote desktop connections in my office.
Thanks again..
Can this be done to windows 7?
Worked for me, but had to manually copy the termsrv.dll to the c:\windows\system32 too (dllcache was not enough), had to start the terminal services in the control panel, services etc window and ignore some windows warnings about it not being an original file.
this was with service pack 2
I can work with remote 2 system only , i can’t able to access 3rd user , how can i activate 3rd user
fast user switching is NOT required. works just fine on a domain.
i got it to work with mult-users but the keyboard/mouse functions lock up when another user logs in.. anyone else having this problem? XP MCE..
Hello Jason,
Thanks for this information.. It was indeed a big achievement. However, I was wondering if there was something like this that could be done for Windows 7. Please let me know as I am using Windows7 and would like to have this on my machine..
Thanks
Armado
Thanks a million! Worked perfectly
i have a problem with step, successfully added dword key and set it to ‘1′, later in
Start -> Run and type gpedit.msc to run the Group Policy Editor
Browse to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> I am not getting “Terminal Services”. i cross checked twice, every thing seems ok but i wonder why i am not getting “terminalservices” through gpedit.msc!!!
Running XP MCE SP2 it used to work. However since SP3 and other patches were installed it stopped working.
I ran the Termiserv_XPSP2-SP3_i386_2.1.zip patch that was mentioned earlier and it worked perfectly. The site was
http://www.sentrix.com.au/Download/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2fDownload%2fSoftware&FolderCTID=&View=%7b8D2CD3D6%2dBCDE%2d4623%2d9154%2d15352EA27E32%7d
Has someone tested this with a computer which is part of a Samba-Domain?
Mine is and for me this doesn’t work, even with Termiserv_XPSP2-SP3_i386_2.1.zip I can’t get it to work. Tested it with a VMware copy and it worked…
Could someone approve that?
Tried this trick and failed — if console session let’s say User1 logged on, I’m connection via RDP to patched PC (XP SP3) with the same User1 credentials — the RDP session hangs for a minute then disconnects…
Has someone tested this with a computer which is part of a Samba-Domain?..
Its works but just only for 3 maximum RDP conections in a time, how to get more than 3 simultaneously conections ?
This did not work for me as the termsrv.dll file is not available when I tried to download it so i used one I had from another website. I have tried 3 different version of this hack from different places and none of them work. All very similar, hack registry, hack gpedit, replace custom termsrv.dll with custom termsrv.dll. I am doing this on virtual XP SP2 and I can remote log in before I do the hack afterwards I can not even log into one session, this hack does not work like all the others have tried.
Hi all,
Procedure explained on this page didn’t work (can’t find Terminal Service in Group Policy Editor…)
On the other hand, method mentionned by Brendan (with Termiserv_XPSP2-SP3_i386_2.1.zip patch) works like a charm.
Good luck.