How a Remote Desktop Connection Affects Windows XP Professional

This article describes how Microsoft Windows XP Professional functions when you use a remote desktop connection.

Windows XP Professional includes remote desktop functionality that you can use to connect remotely to the console through a Terminal Services client. Only one user can use a Windows XP Professional-based computer at a time, either by logging on to the console or by connecting remotely. These are the scenarios you may encounter.

Not using Fast User Switching (FUS)

No User Currently Logged on to the Console

When there are no users logged on to the console of a Windows XP Professional-based computer, any member of the Administrators Group or the Remote Desktop Users Group may establish a remote desktop connection.

Administrator Currently Logged on to the Console

When an administrator is logged on to the console of a Windows XP Professional-based computer, any member of the Administrators group may establish a remote desktop connection.

If a non-administrator attempts to connect, you may receive the following error message: If an administrator attempts to connect and is currently logged on to the console, the administrator can connect to that console session remotely immediately.

If <administrator1> is logged on to the console and <administrator2> attempts to connect, you receive the following error message: NOTE: If <administrator2> continues and logs on, <administrator1> may be disconnected.

Non-administrator Currently Logged on to the Console

When a non-administrator is logged on to the console of a Windows XP Professional-based computer, only that user or a member of the Administrators group may establish a remote desktop connection.

If <user1> is logged on to the console and <user2> attempts to connect, you receive the following error message: If a non-administrator attempts to connect and is logged on to the console, the non-administrator can connect to that console session remotely immediately.

If a non-administrator is logged on to the console and an administrator attempts to connect, you may receive the following error message: If the administrator continues, the non-administrator may be disconnected. A remote administration connection always overrides other connections. Therefore, the local user (either an administrator or a non-administrator) is disconnected when an administrator logs on.

If Fast User Switching Is Enabled

If Fast User Switching is enabled the behavior will be different from when it is not enabled, since the logged user will not be logged off, but instead will be disconnected and can resume their session later.

When a user attempts to use Remote Desktop to connect to a remote computer that has someone logged on it, Administrator or Limited User, they will receive the following error message: The user currently logged on to the remote computer will receive the following error message: If the user clicks No, the remote user will get the message: If the user clicks Yes or does nothing for a few seconds, the remote user will automatically connect and disconnect the current user logged in.

If a user tries to connect remotely and nobody is logged on to the remote computer or if the user is the one currently logged on to it, the user will connect automatically.