Remote Desktop Connection (RDP) to the console session

When you Remote Desktop to a Windows XP Professional computer, you always connect to the console (main/default) session as XP Pro is limited to one interactive session. However, When you remote desktop to Windows 2003 Server or higher, the default is to start a new session. As many seasoned Remote Desktop users are aware, you can run into a lot of problems installing software in a Terminal Services session that isn't the console session.

To connect to console session, use a switch when running Remote Desktop Connection Terminal Services client (mstsc) in order to force Remote Desktop to connect to console session of remote server.

In Windows Server 2003, you can start the RDC client (Mstsc.exe) by using the /console switch to remotely connect to the physical console session on the server (also known as session 0).
mstsc /v:servername /console
In Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, the /console switch has been deprecated. You can use the new /admin switch to remotely connect to a Windows Server 2008-based server for administrative purposes. The /admin switch is introduced in Remote Desktop Client (RDC) 6.1. RDC 6.1 is included in the following operating systems:
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1)
  • Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)
  • Or any computer updated to RDC 6.1
You can type “mstsc /?” to see if the /admin option has to be used for the console
Once you have determined the /admin has be used, Use the following command: 
mstsc /v:servername /admin
To ensure you are on the console (Session ID=0) of the server, please run the command "query session" from a Command Prompt. The ID=0 as showed in the image below confirms that you are on the console (Session ID=0).
By logging in to console session of remote computer, all applications that are running in local (console) mode will be accessible, instead of a new session where applications have to be re-opened.
Please note that in Windows Server 2003, you can start the RDC client (Mstsc.exe) by using the /console or /admin switch to remotely connect to the physical console session on the server (also known as session ID=0). However, in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2, the /console switch has been deprecated. In Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, session 0 is a non-interactive session that is reserved for services.
NoteNote
You should login as the user who is logged on the server.

References

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