RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) stops working on Windows 2008 Core when promoted to DC (Domain Controller)

I had a fully configured Windows 2008 Enterprise server running in Core more. RDP was configured correctly and I could log on to the desktop using MSTSC.

I then promoted the server using DCPROMO to be the first DC in a new domain in a new forest. Once this was complete the machine rebooted.

At this point I could no longer log on to the server using RDP. I tried a few things like disabling the firewall, and running the following command but nothing would work.

c:windowssystem32 > cscript scregedit.wsf /ar 0

Solution

1. run the command c:windowssystem32 > cscript scregedit.wsf /ar 1 to disable RDP
2. run the command c:windowssystem32 > cscript scregedit.wsf /ar /v this will display the registry setting so you can check the value is set to 1
3. reboot the server
4. run the command c:windowssystem32 > cscript scregedit.wsf /ar 0 this will enable RDP
5. run the command c:windowssystem32 > cscript scregedit.wsf /ar /v this will display the registry setting so you can check the value is set to 0
6. reboot the server

Please note I am running these commands from the system32 folder. by default your command promt will be at c:usersadministrator to change directory to the system32 folder use the following commands

• cd
• cd windows
• cd system32