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Is it possible to use Windows remote desktop connection to connect to a Windows XP machine with a user already logged in and just view that users screen without logging them off?

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For server installations, the /console command line option does that trick. (But I doubt it's available on XP as well?) – Arjan Nov 18 '10 at 22:27
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migrated from stackoverflow.com Jun 14 '10 at 21:26

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5 Answers

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If you log in as the same user as the already logged-in user, then you will take over their session. However, the user sitting in front of the PC will be disconnected from the session and see the login screen. If the user logs in again, then you will be disconnected and the user continued from where you left off. At no point is the user's session terminated - the programs continue running.

You can use Windows Remote Assistance, which is based on the same technology as remote desktop. It allows you to view and optionally control the current user's session without them logging off.

Another alternative is Remote Administrator, which I used heavily before remote desktop became widely available.

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Why is this better for SF? – MDMarra Jun 15 '10 at 0:24
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Please don't tell folks about posting on another site. Things will migrate automatically if people vote for that. No need to ask for duplicates! Thanks :-) – Arjan Nov 18 '10 at 22:23
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up vote 1 down vote

If I understand your Question correctly , No. Windows XP can only have *1 SESSION * active at a time. you will need to be running windows server if you want to have more than one ACTIVE session.

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up vote 0 down vote

No, remote desktop creates a new session, different from the currently logged on user. VNC would do what you describe.

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Thanks for the quick answer! Unfortunatly I don't think my organisation will allow vnc to be installed on it's computers. Thanks anyway! – glisignoli Jun 14 '10 at 21:09
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up vote 0 down vote

You can't do this with an RDP connection, but you can use services such as Log Me In to do it, as well as VNC as previously suggested.

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up vote 0 down vote

AT the company I work for we use DameWare Mini Remote Control. Not a free product, but they do have a fully functional trial version.

DameWare allows you to connect to the interactive session kind of like VNC, but extra features including the ability to remotely install the client on a remote machine.

The DameWare Mini Remote Control program is a powerful, yet lightweight remote control tool intended primarily for Administrators and Help Desk personnel. Mini Remote Control was developed specifically for 32-bit & 64-bit Windows Operating Systems (both Servers & Workstations), and was designed for quick and easy deployment without external dependencies and machine reboots. The Mini Remote Control program will run on, and also has the ability to connect to, remote machines running Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008 & 7.

http://www.dameware.com/products/dmrc/

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