A Service-Centric Approach to Resolving Connectivity Hurdles / "Your Remote Desktop Services session has ended"

When the company owner contacted me, distressed over an inability to connect remotely to the server and confronted by the cryptic message, "Your Remote Desktop Services session has ended, possibly for one of the following reasons: The administrator has ended the session. An error occurred while establishing the connection. A network problem occurred. The solutions we have presented below can help you resolve the issue" a puzzle beckoned to be unraveled.

 The error message itself presented a spectrum of potential culprits, from administrative actions to network glitches. Familiar troubleshooting suggestions, ranging from disabling the WDDM driver to tinkering with network properties, littered the digital landscape. Tempting as these solutions were, a prudent pause proved invaluable.

Rather than hastily diving into the trove of suggested fixes, I opted to test the waters firsthand. Attempting to log in from my own computer unveiled a disheartening truth: the issue persisted. This revelation was crucial; it safeguarded against a blind pursuit of generic solutions that might have been mismatched to the problem at hand. The predicament was not exclusive to the owner's system but was a systemic hiccup affecting multiple users.

As time elapsed, the chorus of users reporting the same connectivity conundrum grew. Despite a diligent quest for assistance on the vast expanse of the internet, a satisfactory solution remained elusive. It was only when I delved into the system's underpinnings that the needle in the haystack emerged: services.

The heart of the matter, it turned out, was nestled in the intricate web of services that underpin Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) functionality. A hiccup or malfunction in these crucial background services proved to be the elusive foe causing our remote connection woes.

The takeaway from this saga is clear: when wrestling with RDP connectivity issues, don't overlook the often-overlooked – services. These silent workers in the background wield considerable influence over the seamless functioning of remote connections. Verifying the status of services integral to RDP, such as "Remote Desktop Services" and "Remote Desktop Configuration," is a prudent first step.

In sharing this experience, I hope to spare others the labyrinthine journey I undertook. So, if the enigmatic "Your Remote Desktop Services session has ended" message casts its shadow over your connectivity aspirations, heed the call to inspect your services. It might just be the beacon guiding you out of the connectivity maze and towards a smoother remote desktop experience for all.

 

When dealing with Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) issues, it's essential to ensure that the relevant services are functioning properly. Here are some critical RDP-related services that you should check:

1. Remote Desktop Services (RDS):

   • This service is fundamental for RDP functionality. Ensure that both the "Remote Desktop Services" and "Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector" services are running.

2. Remote Desktop Configuration:

   • The "Remote Desktop Configuration" service is responsible for configuring various aspects of the Remote Desktop Services. Confirm that this service is set to "Automatic" and is currently running.

3. Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector:

   • This service, often abbreviated as UmRdpService, allows a user to control a remote desktop session. Verify that it's set to start automatically and is running.

4. Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector Helper:

   • This service supports the Remote Desktop Services UserMode Port Redirector. Ensure that it's set to start automatically and is running.

5. Remote Procedure Call (RPC):

   • RDP relies on the RPC service. Confirm that the "Remote Procedure Call (RPC)" service is running, as it plays a crucial role in facilitating communication between applications on different computers.

To check and manage these services:

• Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog, type services.msc, and press Enter.
• Look for the services mentioned above and ensure their status is set to "Running" and their startup type is configured as "Automatic."

By confirming the status and configuration of these services, you address a foundational aspect of RDP functionality. If any of these services are not running, attempt to start them manually. If issues persist, further investigation or consultation with IT support may be necessary to pinpoint and resolve the root cause of the RDP problem.

Optimal Order for Running DISM and SFC to Ensure a Healthy Windows System

Maintaining a smoothly functioning Windows operating system is crucial for the optimal performance of your computer. Over time, system files may become corrupted, leading to issues such as sluggishness, crashes, or other unexpected errors. Microsoft provides two powerful tools, Deployment Image Service and Management Tool (DISM) and System File Checker (SFC), to address and repair such problems. While both tools are effective on their own, running them in a specific order can enhance their efficiency. Here's a recommended sequence for running DISM and SFC commands:

1. Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /checkhealth

• This command checks for component store corruption without making any changes.

2. Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /scanhealth

• Performs a more advanced scan to detect component store corruption and assesses the overall health of the Windows image.

3. Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /Restorehealth

• Initiates the repair process and attempts to fix any identified issues in the Windows image.

4. sfc /scannow

• System File Checker is then executed to scan and repair corrupted system files. This step complements the work done by DISM.

5. Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /AnalyzeComponentStore

• Analyzes the component store to provide a detailed report on the space that can be recovered by performing cleanup operations.

6. Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

• Initiates the cleanup process to reduce the size of the component store and enhance system performance.

By following this sequential order, you allow DISM to perform preliminary checks and repairs before engaging the System File Checker. This systematic approach enhances the overall efficiency of the maintenance process and increases the likelihood of resolving any underlying issues in your Windows environment. Always run these commands from an elevated Command Prompt to ensure proper execution and system repair. Regularly performing these steps can contribute to a stable and healthy Windows system.

As an alternative option, you can also follow this sequence:

1. sfc /scannow

   • Start with a System File Checker scan to address immediate issues with corrupted system files.

2. Dism.exe /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

   • Follow up with the DISM RestoreHealth command to further repair the Windows image.

3. Dism.exe /online /Cleanup-Image /StartComponentCleanup

   • Conclude the maintenance process by initiating component cleanup to optimize the system.

Running these commands in the recommended order or the alternative option can significantly contribute to the overall health and stability of your Windows operating system. Regular maintenance, including these tools, is essential for a trouble-free computing experience. Always remember to run these commands from an elevated Command Prompt to ensure proper execution and system repair.

 

 Previous article about fixing issues with this command

 

Fine-Tuning Resource Allocation for Specific Programs in Windows

In troubleshooting scenarios, encountering a program that technically functions but operates with glitches, errors, or crashes is not uncommon. I had this issue in applications responsible for generating crucial reports, such as calendar entries and financial reports. If you find yourself grappling with such issues, consider employing an additional strategy to fine-tune your troubleshooting toolkit: allocating more resources to the problematic program.

Follow these steps to adjust resource allocation using the Windows Task Manager:

1. Access Task Manager:

   Right-click on the taskbar, and from the context menu, select "Start Task Manager." Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc.

2. Navigate to the Processes Tab:

   Once Task Manager is open, navigate to the "Processes" tab. This section provides a detailed overview of all active processes on your system.

3. Identify and Select the Target Process:

   Scroll through the list of processes and locate the one associated with the program you're troubleshooting. Right-click on the specific process to reveal a context menu.

4. Adjust Priority:

   From the context menu, hover over the "Set Priority" option. A submenu will appear, presenting different priority levels. Choose the priority level that aligns with the additional resources you want to allocate to the program.

5. Select Desired Priority Level:

   Click on the desired priority level. Generally, you'll find options like "High," "Above Normal," "Normal," "Below Normal," and "Low." Choose the priority level that best suits your requirements.

A Few Considerations:

- Use Caution: Adjusting process priorities should be approached with caution. Setting a process to too high a priority may impact the performance of other applications. Strive for a balanced allocation of resources.

- Experiment and Monitor: After adjusting the priority, monitor the performance of the program. If issues persist, you may need to experiment with different priority levels to find the optimal balance.

- System Reboot: Changes in process priority often take effect immediately, but for some adjustments, especially with critical system processes, a system reboot may be necessary.

By following these steps, you can enhance the resource allocation for a specific program, potentially mitigating glitches and errors. Experiment with different priority levels to find the configuration that optimizes the performance of your troubled application.

Testing Gnomio, it is a free hosting service for Moodle

Testing, created TILl educational platform, hopefully, will be done in a few months.

https://itil.gnomio.com

Gnomio is a free hosting service for Moodle, the most popular training tool in the world. You can create your own online learning community with your own subdomain, secure access, complete administration privileges, and totally free. The free plan allows you to have up to 500 registered users, 50 concurrent users, 50 courses, 2 GB of SSD storage, and 100 MB upload file size limit. However, ads will be displayed on your site.

If you need more capacity, you can opt for the Shared Hosting Plus plan, which costs $9.95 per month or $109.95 per year. This plan offers 1000 registered users, 100 concurrent users, 100 courses, 10 GB of SSD storage, 1 GB upload file size limit, and no ads on your site1.

Please note that Gnomio mainly aims at small schools and institutions in emerging or developing countries. Any abuse of their resources, the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content, hacking practices, spamming, and any other illegal activities are prohibited1.