How to stop Remote Desktop from asking for password BEFORE connect

[Don Anderson]

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) behavior has changed recently. I don't know
if this came with SP3 or a recent Security Update but now it wants a login
name and password BEFORE it looks for the target computer.

This is bad for me because I am a support tech and often have to verify that
a computer is accessible via RDC when a user has a problem connecting. But I
don't want to actually log in to the box. I just want to see that I can get
to the login dialog on the box. But if I put my domain login name and
password into RDC before it connects to the box, it will log me into the box
without stopping at the login dialog on the box.

Is it possible to disable this requirement to enter a login name and
password before connecting? Failing that, is it possible to go back to the
old version that doesn't do this? I know that if I intentionally enter an
incorrect login name or password then RDC will behave as before but I don't
want to have to do this.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) behavior has changed recently. I don't
know
if this came with SP3 or a recent Security Update but now it wants a login
name and password BEFORE it looks for the target computer.

This is bad for me because I am a support tech and often have to verify
that
a computer is accessible via RDC when a user has a problem connecting. But
I
don't want to actually log in to the box. I just want to see that I can
get
to the login dialog on the box. But if I put my domain login name and
password into RDC before it connects to the box, it will log me into the
box
without stopping at the login dialog on the box.

Is it possible to disable this requirement to enter a login name and
password before connecting? Failing that, is it possible to go back to the
old version that doesn't do this? I know that if I intentionally enter an
incorrect login name or password then RDC will behave as before but I
don't
want to have to do this.

I'm running WinXP Professional SP3 and the version details of my mstsc.exe
file are:
--a-- W32i APP ENU 6.0.6001.18000 shp 677,888 04-14-2008 mstsc.exe

When I attempt to connect to a remote machine with the command
mstsc /v:RemoteName
then I get to the login prompt but only if the remote machine is available.
In other words I am unable to duplicate your observation.

As an alternative you could use this command to see if the remote machine
responds on the default RDP port:
telnet ComputerName 3389 or
telnet IPAddrerss 3389

 

[Big_Al]

Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) behavior has changed recently. I don't know
if this came with SP3 or a recent Security Update but now it wants a login
name and password BEFORE it looks for the target computer.

This is bad for me because I am a support tech and often have to verify that
a computer is accessible via RDC when a user has a problem connecting. But I
don't want to actually log in to the box. I just want to see that I can get
to the login dialog on the box. But if I put my domain login name and
password into RDC before it connects to the box, it will log me into the box
without stopping at the login dialog on the box.

Is it possible to disable this requirement to enter a login name and
password before connecting? Failing that, is it possible to go back to the
old version that doesn't do this? I know that if I intentionally enter an
incorrect login name or password then RDC will behave as before but I don't
want to have to do this

Mine has a box something like: "allow saving credentials".
If I check that, and then get a successful login, the ID / Password is
saved for the next connection. You have to go through one connection.
Don't confuse with 'always ask for saved creditials'. This goes back
to square one.

XP SP3 with the latest Remote desktop software version 6 I think.