Remote desktop connection after installing SP2 1

[tmehanna]

After installing SP2 I can no longer make remote desktop connections to the PC. Not from LAN and not from WAN, and it isn't that I get a "could not connect to remote computer" thing, I get nothing. I click connect on the client computer, buttons grey out for a second after that, then turn black again, like I never clicked connect. I tried connecting from different computers (SP1 and SP2) to the exact same result, the big nothing. Was working bfore SP2 Any ideas?

 

[bcastner]

I tried connecting from different computers (SP1 and SP2) to the exact same result, the big nothing.

Something exogenous to the operating system is at fault. If the SP2 client has an exception made for uPnP services, TCP port 3389 will be opened through the SP2 firewall for remote desktop.

Is the Terminal Services client running on the client?
Have you added or updated either a firewall or Antivirus client?
Have you made provisions in your router to port forward TCP port 3389?

 

[bcastner]

If the remote computer is using an Nvidia display adapter, you need to Start, Run, services.msc and stop then set to disabled the Nvidia Helper service.

 

[tmehanna]

- Clients have no problem connecting to other machines
- Disabled firewall and AV to no avail
- Router was already configured to fwd 3389, I would get a "could not connect..." message if tried to connect on WAN and it wasn't, and doesn't even matter on LAN connections

 

[tmehanna]

Don't have an nvidia helper service on the PC I am trying to connect to. Only Nvidia display driver service. Or did you mean the client computer?

 

[bcastner]

The remote.
But you do not need the Nvidia service on either computer.
I apologize, as the name of the Nvidia service was from memory and its exact name I did not look up.

Whatever Nvidia service is running, stop it and set its startup desposition to disabled.

 

[tmehanna]

Unfortunately still no go. Looks like I will have to reinstall the 2 y.o. windows

 

[bcastner]

uPnP enabled, and the exception made in the SP2 fireall?

 

[bcastner]

Let me make a wild guess here. I think your intstall of Service Pack 2 has issues.

Redo the service pack.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888162

 

[bcastner]

By the way,

This KB article is one of the most usefull I have ever seen. The title and description are misleading.

Check that your XP Service Pack 2 install completred without issue with the KB advice.

I have seen a lot of issues with essentially failed SP2 installs.

Check, and correct.

Bill Castner

 

[tmehanna]

Thanks Bill. Will try reinstalling SP2 and let you know what comes out.

 

[shmoes]

Did you happen to install norton systemworks 2005 or any other products on this machine?

are you sure the remote computer has the same local IP address? (was it static or DHCP)


~Shmoes

 

[homerchowdhry]

I was having the exact same problem. If you have nVidia hardware on your machine then I suggest that you download their latest drivers from nVidia's website and reinstall drivers after installing SP2 and restart the machine.

Doing that solved my problem.

 

[tmehanna]

Solved mine too! Thanks a lot, you just saved me a lot of time and effort, thanks again.