unable to log on to RDP session out-of-site

[Dann]

A rather strange problem I have not been able to solve.
My organization has many remote sites, and in some we have XP boxes set
up as thin clients for Terminal server. These machines autologon using
a low-privileged domain account and password. Users then RDP into
terminal server using their own accounts.
My problem has been accessing the machines remotely for troubleshooting
using RDP. When I try, I get connected to the machine easily enough,
but cannot logon. No matter what account I try , I get this message:

"Unable to log you on because of an account restriction."

I have seen numerous entries for this message on the web, all of which
involve an account with no password. That is not the case here, as all
accounts on the machines do have passwords. I have checked, and
checked, and checked..... They are also all local admin or Remote
Desktop User accounts, usually both. Moreover, the same machines
worked at my site before taking them out to the remote site, and work
again when I bring them back here. They work here regardless of
whether they are on the same subnet or not. I have also tried
connecting to them, at the remote sites, from a server at that site, to
no avail.

 

[Sergey Kuzin [MSFT]]

Another case when you can get this message is when ForceAutoLogon policy is
set on your XP box.
ForceAutoLogon keeps console session on the machine always active.
So, you cannot connect remotely when ForceAutoLogon is set, because on XP
only one active session at a time is allowed.

Thx,
Sergey.

 

[Dann]

Thanks - had considered this as a possible source of the problem,
except that I can connect to the machine when it is in my site! When I
do, it allows me, as an administrator, to close the other session and
login.

Dann