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I'm using Active Directory with Windows XP clients and Server 2003 as the AD. Is there a way to allow a local user to be logged in and allow an admin to login as well without one of the sessions being dropped?

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  • Are you talking about having two users actively logged into the XP Clients at the same time, or the 2003 Server? May 23, 2012 at 21:14
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  • The XP Machine. I would like a lesser(not admin) user logged in doing typical work and then the administrator would be able to log in to manage the box like install updates or whatever while they are still logged in. Is that possible? May 23, 2012 at 21:20
  • Like Luke said in this answer (as well as the answers to the duplicate I linked), Windows client versions (XP, etc.) only allow one active user session at a time. May 23, 2012 at 21:22

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You can have 2 admins connected in Remote Administration mode onto a Server 2003 product, but not into XP natively. There have been products before that would let multiple users connect to a Windows XP Home or Pro machine, but it violates the EULA, and the users were cautioned against installing certain updates, and keeping certain files locked. So yes, you can, but it obviously isn't recommended.

When using Remote Desktop with Windows XP natively, it will kick the current user off, no matter what. You can, however, enable the Telnet server if you know the commands to run, and that will run in the background of the machine

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  • Oh ok. So I just need to remove Admin powers from the user? I was trying to run an admin user and a non-admin user. May 23, 2012 at 19:41
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    If you remove Admin powers, they cannot remote desktop to a server, unless it is a Terminal server. If you remove Admin powers from an XP system, they must be manually added to the Remote Users group, but you're again, limited to one person, whether it's remote or local May 23, 2012 at 19:54
  • So using the Windows Based Remote Desktop System it is NOT possible to have more then 2 users logged in at a time? May 23, 2012 at 20:49
  • Correct, unless you have a Terminal Services Server running, in which case you need extra CALs for each user. When using it with Windows XP, only one person can see a desktop at a time May 23, 2012 at 21:44
  • Which seems a bit annoying to be fair, I could do with that at work haha. May 24, 2012 at 21:57

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