The usability of the /console and /admin switches for Remote Desktop sessions has been removed after Windows XP/2003. Microsoft claims that the functionality of connecting to a local session in newer versions of Windows should be enabled by restricting users to a single session.
Because the physical console session is never session 0, you can always reconnect to your existing session on the physical console. The Restrict Terminal Services users to a single remote session Group Policy setting determines whether you can connect to your existing physical console session. This setting is available in the Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services\Terminal Server\Connections node of the Local Group Policy Editor. You can also configure this setting in Terminal Services Configuration. The Restrict each user to a single session setting appears in Edit settings in the General section. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947723
Is there any way - for those who don't want to generally impose this restriction, or in organizations with existing GPOs that just don't - to work around this?
I'd like to be able to connect to a specific session that is already open (i.e.: a local session left open at the physical console) on a system that does not restrict users to single sessions.