How to get RDP access again with multiple sessions on a machine

How to get RDP access again with multiple sessions on a machine

You may run into this scenario from time to time:

I am unable to RDP or TS into a server remotely because 2 people are logged in and the console port is in use.

Let’s just say that the people or person occuping the maximum number of allowed connections(including console) is new and doesn’t realize that they need to actually disconnect the session and not just click the ‘x’. So you are an admin too but you can’t RDP in. Here is an alternative method:

1. Locate a machine that is running the same OS. In this case it was WIN2K8. You can obtain a remote prompt on that machine by using psexec.exe from:
   

   http://www.hpdit.com/sysinternals/psexec.exe

   Then you will want to query the terminal server of the machine you are not able to RDP into. (Discussed later)

2. Copy the binary by clicking into it and saving locally to a place where you can find and execute it easily from the command line.
3. Press Windows key and R and then type in cmd and press enter.
4. CD to the directory you saved the psexec.exe binary and run the following command:psexec -u domain\admin_creds \\servername cmd

   *Note you can always verify you have a remote command line prompt by checking the hostname as follows:

   hostname

   Press enter and it will produce the system’s hostname

5. Press enter and type in the password of the user with the admin creds and press enter.
6. Then do a query of terminal sessions by doing the following:query session /server:servername
7. Look for the sessions to pop up and find the desireable one to end.
8. End it by typing in the following:reset session [ID] /server:servername
9. You can re-run that query again to determine that the session has been disconnected.
10. Exit out of that prompt by typing exit and then pressing enter.
11. Launch an RDP session ie.

mstsc /v:servername

A connection.

Remote command line prompt in Windows

For those of you that love working with the command line here is a type for working on a machine remotely without having RDP, VNC access to that Windows machine, or you might like to do things the remote shell way, ie. SSH, Stelnet, etc. If the answer is “Yes” here is a way for you to do it in Windows OS environment:

 
1. Go to:http://www.hpdit.com/sysinternals/psexec.exe
2. Click the psexec.exe binary
3. Save to a location you can execute from the command line, like %systemdrive%\system32\ or C$\system32\
4. Press Windows Key plus R and type in cmd and press enter
5. CD to the directory that contains psexec.exe or you can execute it from the absolute path, or if you have it in your in environment path just simply execute from the command line prompt
6. If you wish to obtain another machine’s command prompt without having to TS into that machine type the following: psexec.exe \\computername “cmd”
7. There you have it remote command line access.
8. When you are done type exit to get back to a local prompt.

Registry hack to allow easy command line anywhere access

Command Prompt anywhere Registry Hack

1. Click start
2. Click run
3. type in notepad
4. press enter
5. paste the following code:
   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Command Prompt Here]
   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Command Prompt Here\command]
   @=”;cmd.exe /k \”;cd %1\”;”;
    

Into the notepad

1. Then from there click save as. Make sure you selected all files instead of .txt
2. Name the file whatever you want but add the extension .reg
3. Save it to a location you can execute the file to add the reg mod
4. From there execute the file, then press Windows Key plus the letter E
5. You then will be able to click into a drive like the C: drive and then right click a folder the option to Command Prompt Here will be available
6. Left click that option and you will see a prompt come up in that location.

Windows Server 2003-2008 How to tell if a Server is a VM

Ramp up Excitement for CES 2011

This year HPD Global IT Consulting has been chosen as an Industry Analyst to contribute blogger coverage on the great event of CES 2011.  In the meantime we will also be networking and forming valuable business connections/alliances.  What we are hoping to cover will be Virtual and Mobile technologies essentially the way of the future.  We are starting to see many of the technologies featured 2 years ago starting to take shape in the market today.

We bring real market experience and knowledge to CES and have assisted other established Corporations in being legally and marketable at CES.  It is certainly and expensive show, and requires a large investment for most small businesses, but if networking is done correctly one can forge alliances for years to come.  We anticipate some of the mobile technologies we will be covering will be HTC, Windows Mobile Xbox 360 lite gaming for mobile devices, laptop innovations, cutting edge technologies by way of mobility and remote working.

By covering these areas of interest, we believe that we are paving the way for understanding of the importance of mobile and virtual tech support and service.