Guest Nick Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a certain program can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that program starts automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings and using the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to work. Can anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting not work in XP's version of Terminal Services? Thanks!
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:727D534D-B839-455E-8621-34F2F9F27C5D@microsoft.com... > I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a certain > program > can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that program starts > automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings and > using > the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to work. > Can > anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting not work > in > XP's version of Terminal Services? > > Thanks! You write "but nothing seems to work". You need to be a lot more specific about what exactly you tried and what happened. Without this information we'd have to play guessing games. You should also state what happens during a local log-in.
Guest Nick Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... Sorry, didn't mean to be vague. What I mean is that, after setting an option for a program to start when a user logs in via remote desktop, I reboot the machine and attempt to log in via remote desktop. The user is simply taken to a Windows desktop (and an application does not automatically start) instead of having the application that I specified come up automatically. I'm trying a simple app for right now - notepad.exe. "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:727D534D-B839-455E-8621-34F2F9F27C5D@microsoft.com... > > I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a certain > > program > > can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that program starts > > automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings and > > using > > the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to work. > > Can > > anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting not work > > in > > XP's version of Terminal Services? > > > > Thanks! > > You write "but nothing seems to work". You need to be a lot > more specific about what exactly you tried and what happened. > Without this information we'd have to play guessing games. > You should also state what happens during a local log-in. > > >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... Here is what I tried: - Launch mstsc.exe (no parameters). - Specify the target machine. - Specify notepad.exe in the appropriate field. - Start the session. - Log on. I got an RDP session straight away, with notepad.exe in the foreground. Perhaps notepad.exe is missing or defective on your host. You could also launch your application by placing an appropriate shortcut into the Startup folder on your host machine. "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:81307FC4-97E0-40D0-A099-72619F277919@microsoft.com... > Sorry, didn't mean to be vague. What I mean is that, after setting an > option > for a program to start when a user logs in via remote desktop, I reboot > the > machine and attempt to log in via remote desktop. The user is simply > taken > to a Windows desktop (and an application does not automatically start) > instead of having the application that I specified come up automatically. > I'm trying a simple app for right now - notepad.exe. > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:727D534D-B839-455E-8621-34F2F9F27C5D@microsoft.com... >> > I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a certain >> > program >> > can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that program >> > starts >> > automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings and >> > using >> > the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to work. >> > Can >> > anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting not >> > work >> > in >> > XP's version of Terminal Services? >> > >> > Thanks! >> >> You write "but nothing seems to work". You need to be a lot >> more specific about what exactly you tried and what happened. >> Without this information we'd have to play guessing games. >> You should also state what happens during a local log-in. >> >> >>
Guest Nick Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... Yes, I'm well aware you can do it on the CLIENT side - I want to do it on the "SERVER" side. So, I have a Windows XP machine to which other people are going to be logging in. On the Windows XP machine to which the users will be connecting (the "SERVER," if you will), I would like to FORCE a certain application to load automatically, whether the user specifies it or not. I know you can do this on Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services, and the settings are there to do it on Windows XP's Remote Desktop service (at least, they're there in the Group Policy Editor and they get put in the registry), but the settings don't seem to have any affect at all - users are still taken to the desktop automatically when they log in. "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > Here is what I tried: > - Launch mstsc.exe (no parameters). > - Specify the target machine. > - Specify notepad.exe in the appropriate field. > - Start the session. > - Log on. > > I got an RDP session straight away, with notepad.exe in > the foreground. Perhaps notepad.exe is missing or defective > on your host. > > You could also launch your application by placing an appropriate > shortcut into the Startup folder on your host machine. > > > "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:81307FC4-97E0-40D0-A099-72619F277919@microsoft.com... > > Sorry, didn't mean to be vague. What I mean is that, after setting an > > option > > for a program to start when a user logs in via remote desktop, I reboot > > the > > machine and attempt to log in via remote desktop. The user is simply > > taken > > to a Windows desktop (and an application does not automatically start) > > instead of having the application that I specified come up automatically. > > I'm trying a simple app for right now - notepad.exe. > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > > >> > >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> news:727D534D-B839-455E-8621-34F2F9F27C5D@microsoft.com... > >> > I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a certain > >> > program > >> > can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that program > >> > starts > >> > automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings and > >> > using > >> > the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to work. > >> > Can > >> > anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting not > >> > work > >> > in > >> > XP's version of Terminal Services? > >> > > >> > Thanks! > >> > >> You write "but nothing seems to work". You need to be a lot > >> more specific about what exactly you tried and what happened. > >> Without this information we'd have to play guessing games. > >> You should also state what happens during a local log-in. > >> > >> > >> > > >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... As I wrote before, simply place the appropriate shortcut into the Startup folder on the host (=the Server). "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:BF2F0D48-1AE9-4385-9B72-8871E88BFC65@microsoft.com... > Yes, I'm well aware you can do it on the CLIENT side - I want to do it on > the > "SERVER" side. So, I have a Windows XP machine to which other people are > going to be logging in. On the Windows XP machine to which the users will > be > connecting (the "SERVER," if you will), I would like to FORCE a certain > application to load automatically, whether the user specifies it or not. > I > know you can do this on Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services, and the > settings are there to do it on Windows XP's Remote Desktop service (at > least, > they're there in the Group Policy Editor and they get put in the > registry), > but the settings don't seem to have any affect at all - users are still > taken > to the desktop automatically when they log in. > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> Here is what I tried: >> - Launch mstsc.exe (no parameters). >> - Specify the target machine. >> - Specify notepad.exe in the appropriate field. >> - Start the session. >> - Log on. >> >> I got an RDP session straight away, with notepad.exe in >> the foreground. Perhaps notepad.exe is missing or defective >> on your host. >> >> You could also launch your application by placing an appropriate >> shortcut into the Startup folder on your host machine. >> >> >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:81307FC4-97E0-40D0-A099-72619F277919@microsoft.com... >> > Sorry, didn't mean to be vague. What I mean is that, after setting an >> > option >> > for a program to start when a user logs in via remote desktop, I reboot >> > the >> > machine and attempt to log in via remote desktop. The user is simply >> > taken >> > to a Windows desktop (and an application does not automatically start) >> > instead of having the application that I specified come up >> > automatically. >> > I'm trying a simple app for right now - notepad.exe. >> > >> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: >> > >> >> >> >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> >> news:727D534D-B839-455E-8621-34F2F9F27C5D@microsoft.com... >> >> > I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a certain >> >> > program >> >> > can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that program >> >> > starts >> >> > automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings >> >> > and >> >> > using >> >> > the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to >> >> > work. >> >> > Can >> >> > anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting not >> >> > work >> >> > in >> >> > XP's version of Terminal Services? >> >> > >> >> > Thanks! >> >> >> >> You write "but nothing seems to work". You need to be a lot >> >> more specific about what exactly you tried and what happened. >> >> Without this information we'd have to play guessing games. >> >> You should also state what happens during a local log-in. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
Guest Nick Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... Unfortunately this isn't quite acceptable - I don't want the users to be able to launch anything else on the machine - I don't want them to have access to a desktop at all. I'm guessing what I'm trying to do isn't possible in Windows XP. Thanks for your time in attempting to help me out! "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > As I wrote before, simply place the appropriate shortcut into > the Startup folder on the host (=the Server). > > > "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:BF2F0D48-1AE9-4385-9B72-8871E88BFC65@microsoft.com... > > Yes, I'm well aware you can do it on the CLIENT side - I want to do it on > > the > > "SERVER" side. So, I have a Windows XP machine to which other people are > > going to be logging in. On the Windows XP machine to which the users will > > be > > connecting (the "SERVER," if you will), I would like to FORCE a certain > > application to load automatically, whether the user specifies it or not. > > I > > know you can do this on Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services, and the > > settings are there to do it on Windows XP's Remote Desktop service (at > > least, > > they're there in the Group Policy Editor and they get put in the > > registry), > > but the settings don't seem to have any affect at all - users are still > > taken > > to the desktop automatically when they log in. > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > > >> Here is what I tried: > >> - Launch mstsc.exe (no parameters). > >> - Specify the target machine. > >> - Specify notepad.exe in the appropriate field. > >> - Start the session. > >> - Log on. > >> > >> I got an RDP session straight away, with notepad.exe in > >> the foreground. Perhaps notepad.exe is missing or defective > >> on your host. > >> > >> You could also launch your application by placing an appropriate > >> shortcut into the Startup folder on your host machine. > >> > >> > >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> news:81307FC4-97E0-40D0-A099-72619F277919@microsoft.com... > >> > Sorry, didn't mean to be vague. What I mean is that, after setting an > >> > option > >> > for a program to start when a user logs in via remote desktop, I reboot > >> > the > >> > machine and attempt to log in via remote desktop. The user is simply > >> > taken > >> > to a Windows desktop (and an application does not automatically start) > >> > instead of having the application that I specified come up > >> > automatically. > >> > I'm trying a simple app for right now - notepad.exe. > >> > > >> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> > > >> >> > >> >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> >> news:727D534D-B839-455E-8621-34F2F9F27C5D@microsoft.com... > >> >> > I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a certain > >> >> > program > >> >> > can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that program > >> >> > starts > >> >> > automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings > >> >> > and > >> >> > using > >> >> > the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to > >> >> > work. > >> >> > Can > >> >> > anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting not > >> >> > work > >> >> > in > >> >> > XP's version of Terminal Services? > >> >> > > >> >> > Thanks! > >> >> > >> >> You write "but nothing seems to work". You need to be a lot > >> >> more specific about what exactly you tried and what happened. > >> >> Without this information we'd have to play guessing games. > >> >> You should also state what happens during a local log-in. > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> > >> > >> > > >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... I see. It seems I missed the word "only" in your original question. What you need here is an alternative "Shell": Not Windows Explorer but your own program. AFAIK this is not too hard to achieve but I have never tried it myself. It's probably defined here: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon If I were to play with this registry key then I would start by backing up the registry, using regback.exe. I would then have my trusty Bart PE boot CD handy so that I could restore the registry in case I was unable to start Windows. Anyway, alternative shells are unrelated to Remote Desktop or Console sessions. I suggest you start another thread under a subject such as "Alternative Windows Shell". "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:3E86C8BA-152A-422B-976D-6A4BE4D4B93A@microsoft.com... > Unfortunately this isn't quite acceptable - I don't want the users to be > able > to launch anything else on the machine - I don't want them to have access > to > a desktop at all. I'm guessing what I'm trying to do isn't possible in > Windows XP. > > Thanks for your time in attempting to help me out! > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> As I wrote before, simply place the appropriate shortcut into >> the Startup folder on the host (=the Server). >> >> >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:BF2F0D48-1AE9-4385-9B72-8871E88BFC65@microsoft.com... >> > Yes, I'm well aware you can do it on the CLIENT side - I want to do it >> > on >> > the >> > "SERVER" side. So, I have a Windows XP machine to which other people >> > are >> > going to be logging in. On the Windows XP machine to which the users >> > will >> > be >> > connecting (the "SERVER," if you will), I would like to FORCE a certain >> > application to load automatically, whether the user specifies it or >> > not. >> > I >> > know you can do this on Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services, and the >> > settings are there to do it on Windows XP's Remote Desktop service (at >> > least, >> > they're there in the Group Policy Editor and they get put in the >> > registry), >> > but the settings don't seem to have any affect at all - users are still >> > taken >> > to the desktop automatically when they log in. >> > >> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: >> > >> >> Here is what I tried: >> >> - Launch mstsc.exe (no parameters). >> >> - Specify the target machine. >> >> - Specify notepad.exe in the appropriate field. >> >> - Start the session. >> >> - Log on. >> >> >> >> I got an RDP session straight away, with notepad.exe in >> >> the foreground. Perhaps notepad.exe is missing or defective >> >> on your host. >> >> >> >> You could also launch your application by placing an appropriate >> >> shortcut into the Startup folder on your host machine. >> >> >> >> >> >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> >> news:81307FC4-97E0-40D0-A099-72619F277919@microsoft.com... >> >> > Sorry, didn't mean to be vague. What I mean is that, after setting >> >> > an >> >> > option >> >> > for a program to start when a user logs in via remote desktop, I >> >> > reboot >> >> > the >> >> > machine and attempt to log in via remote desktop. The user is >> >> > simply >> >> > taken >> >> > to a Windows desktop (and an application does not automatically >> >> > start) >> >> > instead of having the application that I specified come up >> >> > automatically. >> >> > I'm trying a simple app for right now - notepad.exe. >> >> > >> >> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: >> >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> "Nick" <Nick@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> >> >> news:727D534D-B839-455E-8621-34F2F9F27C5D@microsoft.com... >> >> >> > I'm attempting to set up a Windows XP machine so that only a >> >> >> > certain >> >> >> > program >> >> >> > can be run when a user logs in via remote desktop, and that >> >> >> > program >> >> >> > starts >> >> >> > automatically upon login. I've tried adjusting registry settings >> >> >> > and >> >> >> > using >> >> >> > the gpedit.msc panel to enable this feature, but nothing seems to >> >> >> > work. >> >> >> > Can >> >> >> > anyone tell me if it's possible to do this, or does this setting >> >> >> > not >> >> >> > work >> >> >> > in >> >> >> > XP's version of Terminal Services? >> >> >> > >> >> >> > Thanks! >> >> >> >> >> >> You write "but nothing seems to work". You need to be a lot >> >> >> more specific about what exactly you tried and what happened. >> >> >> Without this information we'd have to play guessing games. >> >> >> You should also state what happens during a local log-in. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>
Guest Nick Posted July 9, 2007 Posted July 9, 2007 Re: Windows XP Remote Desktop Settings... I did end up changing the shell to a script that starts the app that I want to run and then logs off Windows using the shutdown -l command (since Windows didn't automatically log off after the app exits). This seems to work fine for me - again, thanks for your help. "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > I see. It seems I missed the word "only" in your original > question. What you need here is an alternative "Shell": > Not Windows Explorer but your own program. AFAIK > this is not too hard to achieve but I have never tried it > myself. It's probably defined here: > HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon > > If I were to play with this registry key then I would start > by backing up the registry, using regback.exe. I would > then have my trusty Bart PE boot CD handy so that > I could restore the registry in case I was unable to start > Windows. > > Anyway, alternative shells are unrelated to Remote > Desktop or Console sessions. I suggest you start another > thread under a subject such as "Alternative Windows Shell". > >
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