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The CLIENTNAME environment variable returns the value "Console" instead of the actual client name when users first log on to a Windows XP SP3-based computer by using Remote Desktop Connection

Article ID: 971165 - View products that this article applies to.

Hotfix Download Available

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SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:

You have a computer that has Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) installed.
You enable users to connect remotely to the computer by using Remote Desktop Connection (RDC).
In the first logon attempt after you restart the computer, you use RDC instead of a console logon.

After you connect to the computer from a remote computer in this scenario, the CLIENTNAME environment variable is set to "Console" instead of to the name of the remote computer. Therefore, programs or scripts that rely on the CLIENTNAME environment variable do not work as expected.

Notes

To check the value for the CLIENTNAME environment variable, type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER:
Set
You can log off and then log on to the computer to receive the correct value for the CLIENTNAME environment variable. However, when you restart the computer, this problem may recur.
If the hotfix that is described in Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) article 281981 is applied to the computer, the CLIENTNAME environment variable is updated correctly after you disconnect and then reconnect to the Remote Desktop Connection session.

For more information about KB article 281981, see the "MORE INFORMATION" section.

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CAUSE

When you establish a Remote Desktop Connection session, Terminal Services updates the clientname registry entry in the following location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Volatile Environment

The CLIENTNAME environment variable uses the value that is stored in this location.

If you use Remote Desktop Connection to connect to a Windows XP SP3-based computer, Terminal Services does not update the clientname registry entry on the first logon attempt because the user profile is not loaded completely. Terminal Services does not try to update the clientname registry entry again after the first logon attempt. Therefore, the clientname registry entry is not updated successfully.

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RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, install the following hotfix. After you install this hotfix, the system retries several times to write the clientname registry entry with correct value on the first logon attempt. Therefore, you should receive the correct value for the CLIENTNAME environment variable.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 3 installed on the computer. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/ )

How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix replaces the following hotfix:

281981

(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281981/ )

Disconnected sessions retain the original <clientname> variable

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.