Symptoms
Consider the following scenario:
- You start a terminal session to a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 and has the terminal server role installed.
- A specific program is configured to start on this terminal server when a terminal session is started.
- You end the terminal session while the terminal session is still being established. For example, you close the terminal session window when you see the "Preparing your desktop" screen.
- You start another terminal session to the same terminal server by using the same user account.
In this scenario, the full Windows desktop starts instead of the specified program.
Cause
When a terminal session starts, the userinit.exe program determines which program to start. However, when this issue occurs, the server does not correctly log off from the terminal session. Therefore, the userinit.exe program cannot locate the specified program. Instead, the program starts the explorer.exe process. Therefore, the full Windows desktop appears in the terminal session.
Resolution
A hotfix is available to resolve this issue. After you apply this hotfix, the userinit.exe program logs off the current terminal session if it cannot locate the specified program.
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. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.
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, contact 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 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.
Important Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the “Hotfix Request” page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page.
Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, your computer must be running one of the following operating systems:
- Windows Server 2008
- Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2
Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.
Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.
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.
Windows Server 2008 file information note
The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are
listed separately. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files (attributes not listed) are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.
For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform | SP requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Userinit.exe | 6.0.6001.22425 | 25,088 | 04-May-2009 | 10:16 | x86 | SP1 |
| Userinit.exe | 6.0.6002.22128 | 25,088 | 04-May-2009 | 10:03 | x86 | SP2 |
For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform | SP requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Userinit.exe | 6.0.6001.22425 | 28,672 | 04-May-2009 | 10:38 | x64 | SP1 |
| Userinit.exe | 6.0.6002.22128 | 28,672 | 04-May-2009 | 10:18 | x64 | SP2 |
For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform | SP requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Userinit.exe | 6.0.6001.22425 | 60,928 | 04-May-2009 | 10:31 | IA-64 | SP1 |
| Userinit.exe | 6.0.6002.22128 | 60,928 | 04-May-2009 | 10:11 | IA-64 | SP2 |
Workaround
To work around this issue, you log off the terminal session, and then start a new one.
Status
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
More Information
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates
Additional file information for Windows Server 2008
Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package_for_kb969940_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,421 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc_1~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,361 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,701 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,425 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server_1~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,365 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,713 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_winpesrv_0~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,422 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_winpesrv~31bf3856ad364e35~x86~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,430 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| X86_microsoft-windows-userinit_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22425_none_dca1be2cead945df.manifest | Not Applicable | 7,930 | 04-May-2009 | 14:03 | Not Applicable |
| X86_microsoft-windows-userinit_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.22128_none_de8b30f2e7fce708.manifest | Not Applicable | 7,930 | 04-May-2009 | 14:04 | Not Applicable |
Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amd64_microsoft-windows-userinit_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22425_none_38c059b0a336b715.manifest | Not Applicable | 7,964 | 04-May-2009 | 14:21 | Not Applicable |
| Amd64_microsoft-windows-userinit_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.22128_none_3aa9cc76a05a583e.manifest | Not Applicable | 7,964 | 04-May-2009 | 13:36 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,429 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc_1~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,369 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,711 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,433 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server_1~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,373 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,723 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_winpesrv_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,430 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_winpesrv~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,438 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
Additional files for all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008
| File name | File version | File size | Date | Time | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ia64_microsoft-windows-userinit_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22425_none_dca36222ead74edb.manifest | Not Applicable | 7,947 | 04-May-2009 | 13:53 | Not Applicable |
| Ia64_microsoft-windows-userinit_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6002.22128_none_de8cd4e8e7faf004.manifest | Not Applicable | 7,947 | 04-May-2009 | 13:23 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,425 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc_1~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,365 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,706 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,429 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server_1~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,368 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_server~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,718 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_winpesrv_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,426 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |
| Package_for_kb969940_winpesrv~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum | Not Applicable | 1,434 | 06-May-2009 | 13:33 | Not Applicable |