MSTSC crash on connect

Question

We are supporting a client with primarily Windows XP machines. The users need to use Remote Desktop to connect to a terminal server. Unfortunately, after upgrading to SP3 on some machines MSTSC.exe crashes when they try to connect to the terminal server (a Win 2008 machine). The resolution I have found has been to revert to an older version of MSTSC as described here: http://it.tmod.pl/Blog/EntryId/115/Remote-Desktop-Connection-crashes.aspx . Another tech at my company independently arrived at a similar solution.

Unfortunately, now some of the user's printers are missing (when connected tot he terminal server). Has anyone else seen this issue? How did you resolve it?

Answer 1

i had similar problem, try this:

1. remove content of C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Terminal Server Client\Cache
2. log off, log on

don't ask why... it just did the trick for me.

Answer 2

Rotard-

Can you post the event log that corresponds with the crash? That will help pinpoint which module is faulting. Are you using a program called triCerat Screwdrivers by any chance?

Answer 3

I know this really doesn't solve the problem, but more works around it, but you may want to see this serverfault post. http://serverfault.com/questions/5959/alternative-remote-desktop-software.

The only other thing I would do is rollback from SP3, I have heard other (all-be-it antidotal), stories of people not liking SP3 for various reasons. This however may not be an option.

Answer 4

I use Terminal Services all day long everyday and I connect to 100+ servers that use the SP3 version of TS. I haven't had any problems. I love it. Usually, if I have any connection problems I find them in the "Terminal Services Manager" by snooping around a little.

In regard to the printer, I think it just shows you the "default" printer. To print to a different printer just change the default printer on the local machine.

Answer 5

I have this same problem, however, I was able to pinpoint the cause. It only happens if I log in to the remote computer with a thin client, then a thick client and back to the thin client. I believe the problem is with the thin client somehow but I can't find any logs that indicate what happened during this crash. My thin client is an HP t5710 running XPe.

Answer 6

The issue has not come up again to my knowledge, but I think the problem may actually be a symptom of a greater problem: every (all of 2-3) machine that has exhibited this behavior has required a reformat in approximately a month or so of the time the mstsc problem surfaced. So I think the standard procedure, if it comes up again, will be to just reformat

Answer 7

I found another answer to this! If you are trying to connect to any computer using Windows XP Remote Desktop and keep getting a crash error after clicking 'connect' this is the solution.

Run CCleaner! Or run Disk Cleanup...

I spent about 2 hours on this issue, and after running CCleaner and disk cleanup I had NO ISSUES!! sorry to bring this thread back to life but this is the number 3 solution on google...