Enabling Concurrent Remote Desktop Sessions on Windows XP SP3 - Patched file included
May 17, 2008 by alonb
If you have multiple users on your Windows XP machine, you might have heard it is possible to patch the terminal services service, to support multiple concurrent remote desktop connection (via RDP) to your computer.
Around the time Windows XP SP1 was released, a patched version of the file termsrv.dll could be found on the Internet, replacing this file with your existing one enabled the concurrent remote sessions support.
Yesterday I upgraded to Windows XP SP3 (you may ask if it isn’t too early? maybe so, but since I’ve already been using the latest RC for some time now, I felt confident enough to apply this update on my home computer). Anyhow, after updating to SP3, I discovered my computer no longer supports concurrent remote sessions.
Short Googling returned few articles explaining how to patch the termsrv.dll to support concurrent sessions, so I pulled out my favorite HEX editor and with few clicks everything was up and running again.
To save so time for other users (and myself when upgrading more computers), I’ve packaged the updated termsrv.dll file with another file that will make the required changes to your registry. (see the included readme.txt file for further instructions).
Download the patched version: termsrv_sp3_patch.rar
Installation instructions
0. Go to C:\Windows\system32\dllcache and rename the termsrv.dll to termsrv.dll.bak
1. Go to \Windows\System32 folder and rename termsrv.dll to termsrv.dll.bak
2. Copy the new SP3 patched termsrv.dll to \Windows\System32 folder
3. Run the included registry patch “ts_concurrent_session_patch.reg”
(by double clicking it), it will update the relevant registry values
which are relevant to the concurrent sessions support.
3. Restart windows.
NOTE:
if you are currently using Terminal Services, you will need to start
windows in safe mode before you can overwrite the existing termsrv.dll
files.
Alon
UPDATE 7/June/08:
I’ve added a note to the installation instructions suggesting to
remove another copy of termsrv.dll that resides in the dllcache
directory (Anthoney, thanks for the tip).
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I used to use Sala’s Terminal Server Patch, but I never realized it was this easy.
Works great, thanks for this!
i am able to have 2 separate accounts logged on simultaneously, 1 local and 1 remote. i am not able to logon remotely using the account currently logged. i am not able to control the computer remotely. does this patch allow this or not?
trackbacker, if I understand you correctly, you want to control a remote session, while the session host is active (in a way that if I move the mouse from remote, a person who sits near the host will also see the mouse moves and vice versa).
If that’s what you’re after than the answer is no. That’s not the intention of this patch.
To achieve what you’re after I suggest you look for solutions such as VNC / LogMeIn etc.
alonb, thanks for responding. i am looking for exactly what you described. if your patched file and registry changes do not support the functionality described, then everything is working as it is supposed to.
sala’s terminal patch allowed controlling a remote session while the session host is active. can you not make something similar for sp3? it would be really cool considering there is nothing (source: google) like sala’s patch for sp3.
[...] my old patch was broken few days ago when I upgraded my copy of windows to SP3. Here is a patchedhttp://alonbilu.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/enabling-multiple-concurrent-remote-sessions-on-windows-xp-…Microsoft Windows XP helpProfessional - Full / Upgrade. Additional listing of Microsoft windows [...]
I went into Safe Mode.. renamed all traces of termserv.dll to something else.
Copied the file into the system32 dir.. ran the registry file.
Rebooted… and it doesn’t work :(.
When I log into the guest account I see that the other user is disconnected and not still active.
What am I doing wrong?
Are there any pertinent services that need to be running? what about remote desktop?
Thanks!
Thank you for the fix with SP3. Its great!!
Awesome! Worked like a charm! I had already upgraded my laptop to SP3 and was holding off on upgrading my desktop to SP3 just because of this reason!
Thanks!!!!
Dude,
you are a start.
works like a charm
Thanks
Do I understand that you are using a patched version of the SP3 termserv.dll, rather than using a version from sp2 beta?
I assume that that’s a better option than using the old file, correct?
Thanks
Dude, you are great, thanks.
Not exactly related to concurrent sessions, but RDP nonetheless. Watch out for the latest NVIDIAvideo driver update (175.16). It may break RDP on your machine and offer no insight as to why. See blogs.technet.com/brad_rutkowski/archive/2008/01/04/systemroot-system32-rdpdd-dll-failed-to-load.aspx. This one drove me batty for over a week. Driver rollback solves the problem.
[...] my old patch was broken few days ago when I upgraded my copy of windows to SP3. Here is a patchedhttp://alonbilu.wordpress.com/2008/05/17/enabling-multiple-concurrent-remote-sessions-on-windows-xp-…Daylight Saving fix for Windows 2000,XP, 2003, and NT DST Patch …Easily make tweaks and changes to [...]
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
You may want to update your directions to state that the SP3 cache version should also be overwritten. Your directions did not work first try, as I XP kept overwriting the SYSTEM32 version.
is it possible if i’m not satified to uninstall this patch for xpsp3
Anyhoney - 10x for the tip => updated as suggested.
nunzietta - Of course, just backup termsvr.dll before you overwrite it with the new one and you can replace the files back at any time (if you’ll want to revert to prev version).
Out of curiosity: how did you know what values to modify?
Greets
Davor
i’m sorry to ask sutch a stupid question,but i don’t know how to backup termsrv.dll before installing the patch
and then second question to install this patch is is enough to doubble clicking on it in winrar.
thank you for all and excuse my inexperience
Does this patch work on a machine without fast user switching enabled and being part of a domain? Thanks
nunzietta -
1. Pls follow the instructions in the readme file (can be found inside the rar) explaining how to install the patch (in general it involves copying the file to the system32 dir).
2. To backup the original termsrv file all you need to do is rename it, or just copy it to another location.
Cremat - haven’t tried so I really can’t tell… but I’ve got a hunch it will (let me know if you try it).
I followed the instructions and I did it . I don’t already know if it goes but something isn’t ok: when I command fc/b the computer answers that it cannot open termsrv.dll because it doesn’t exist,while when I’m going in system32 I can sea it
the new installed version of termsrv.dll appears with the same number of version than windows sp3 is it normal?
The third question is: will a user , connected on the server with a non safe connexion , be disconnected when I connect me from bureau à distance?
thanks
works perfect!!! thanks!
I have similar issue with Terminal Services SP3. I am using SSH-tunneling and after installing SP3 Terminal Services client says that something like “cannot connect because already connected to the local console” - in my local language. I have set up a dummy interface with address 10.10.10.25 with SSH-tunnel software listening on. Things work when testing with telnet, but Terminal Services client refuses to try to connect…
Any ideas except uninstalling SP3?
Pfew…. it works.. Many thanks, i got worried when i didn’t get multiuser to work after installing sp3.
Out of curiosity: how many concurrent users are supported using the patch and activating the .reg file? 3?, 4? 10? infinite?
Thanks again!
(Holland soccer rulez)
There seems to be no limit for number of concurrent users.