Microsoft Windows 8 RDP all-in-one combo updater for Windows 7 & Server 2008 R2

Microsoft loves to make updates more complicated than they need to be. To simplify the process I have created and installer that automates the process.

My Windows 8 RDP all-in-one combo updater packages will install silently both required updates for you and then prompt you to restart your system.

There is one package for Windows 7 x86 and another for either Windows 7 x64 or Windows Server R2.

You will be prompted to restart the system when the updates completes.



Choose Yes  to restart now or No to restart later. The new client will not take effect until you restart.

Official MS RDP 8.0 Update for Windows 7 SP1 Released

The official Microsoft RDP 8.0 client for windows 7 x86 and x64 and for server 2008 has been released.

Make sure you download and install update 2574819 (links below) before installing  the RDP 8.0 client.  Each of these updates prompts for a re-boot, though I skipped the re-boot and continued to the second install before re-booting and it installed fine.  

Instead of downloading each file below and running them individually check my blog here if you want to download my MS Windows 8 RDP all-in-one combo updater package that automates the below process into one installer.

Operating system	Update
All supported x86-based versions of Windows 7	Download and install this update first (ignore reboot) Download and install the client second then reboot
All supported x64-based versions of Windows 7	Download and install this update first  (ignore reboot) Download and install the client second then reboot
All supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 R2	Download and install this update first  (ignore reboot) Download and install the client second then reboot

How to verify that RDP 8.0 is enabled

To verify that RDP 8.0 is enabled on a remote computer that is running Windows 7 SP1, connect to the computer from a computer that is running Windows 8 or that is running Windows 7 SP1 by using Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 8.0. After you connect to the computer, follow these steps to verify that RDP 8.0 is enabled:

1. If RDP 8.0 is enabled, the connection quality button will be displayed in the connection bar.


2. Click the connection quality button to open an information dialog box that resembles the following.

The presence of the connection quality button and of the connection quality dialog box confirms the availability of RDP 8.0 for the remote connection.

Those who,  because of the  issues stated below,  want to keep their old client version can still download my version which retains you old rdp client. Check my blog here 

Known issues with the RDP 8.0 update

1. Virtual desktops that have RemoteFX vGPU installed cannot use RDP 8.0.
   
   Issue
   
   After you install and enable RDP 8.0 by using Group Policy on a computer that has RemoteFX vGPU installed, RDP 8.0 is not available.
   
   Resolution
   
   This update does not enable RDP 8.0 for connections to computers that have RemoteFX vGPU installed. If you must have RDP 8.0 enabled, remove RemoteFX vGPU from the virtual desktop to enable RDP 8.0.


2. The Shadow command cannot be used to remotely monitor another user's remote connection.
   

   Issue

   Windows 7 SP1 supports the Shadow command (Remote Control). This command can be used by an administrator to view or control an active session of another user. After RDP 8.0 is enabled on a computer that is running Windows 7 SP1, an administrator user cannot use the Shadow command to view or control another user's session.
   

   Resolution

   Administrators can use Remote Assistance or another product that provides similar capability to view or control another user's session.


3. Aero Glass support is unavailable.
   

   Issue

   The Aero Glass remoting feature in Windows 7 lets users who are running compatible Remote Desktop Connection clients use features such as a Flip-3D, the live task bar preview, and the translucent window border in a remote desktop connection when a compatible RDC 7.0 client is used. After RDP 8.0 is enabled, users cannot use the Aero Glass remoting feature.
   

   Resolution

   Administrators should not enable RDP 8.0 on remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 for users who must use the Aero Glass remoting feature.


4. RDP 8.0 on remote computers that are running Windows 7 SP1 does not use the UDP protocol.
   

   Issue

   The RemoteFX for WAN feature in RDP 8.0 intelligently uses TCP and UDP protocols to optimize the user experience. After you install and enable RDP 8.0 on computers that are running Windows 7 SP1, RDP 8.0 is configured to use only the TCP protocol.
   

   Resolution

   To resolve this issue, configure RDP 8.0 to use both the TCP and UDP protocols. For more information, see the "How to enable RDP 8.0" section.


5. Local administrators who are not a member of the Remote Desktop Users group cannot sign in by using a Remote Desktop Connection client.
   

   Issue

   After RDP 8.0 is enabled, local administrators who are not a member of the Remote Desktop Users group cannot sign in.
   

   Resolution

   To resolve this issue, add local administrator users to the Remote Desktop Users group.


6. The firewall rule that allows UDP traffic is not enabled when you use a Group Policy Object (GPO) to enable RDP 8.0.
   

   Issue

   If you use a GPO to enable RDP 8.0, the UDP firewall rule that allows UDP traffic is not enabled sometimes.
   

   Resolution

   
   To resolve this issue, create a GPO to enable the Remote Desktop - User Mode (UDP-In) firewall.


7. You experience slow performance when IPsec is deployed in the network.
   

   Issue

   When you connect to a computer by using the RDP 8.0 protocol in certain situations, you experience slow performance. This issue occurs when IPsec is deployed in the network.
   

   Resolution

   To resolve this issue, install hotfix 2570170 on the server.
   
   For more information about hotfix 2570170, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   
   2570170 Performance issue when you enable the AuthNoEncap policy to handle large payloads in a network environment in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2


8. You cannot use the multi-touch and gestures functionalities when you connect to a computer remotely.
   

   Issue

   You cannot use the multi-touch and gestures functionalities when you use Remote Desktop Connection Client 8.0 on a computer that is running Windows 7 SP1.
   

   Resolution

   The RemoteFX multi-touch feature is supported only when both the client and server computers are running Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012.

Using Windows PowerShell to fix a broken Secure Channel and reset the computer account

When a computer joins a domain, a computer account is created in AD. The computer account gets its own password that will expire after 30 days (default). When the password expires, the computer itself will initiate a password change with a DC in its domain.

When the computer starts up, it uses this password to create a secure channel (SC) with a DC. The computer will request to sign all traffic that passes the SC. If a DC says “go ahead”, all traffic that is signed passes through this channel.

Traffic like NTLM pass through authentication is typically signed traffic.

So what happens if there is a mismatch between the computer account password? The computer tries to authenticate, but the DC says this is not the correct password.

The SC is down.

To reset the SC between a computer and a DC:

Open PowerShell on the local computer with the broken SC and run the cmdlet:

Test-ComputerSecureChannel -repair

*The cmdlet requires PowerShell 2.0  (which is pre-installed on Win7/2008R2) or greater

Restart Windows 8 or server 2012 in a remote desktop session

Restarting  Windows 8 or Server 2012 when in a remote desktop session

When you're in a remote desktop connection in Windows 8 or Server 2012 the quickest way to restart the PC is to go to the desktop and  press ALT-F4.   Pressing Alt-F4  inside an application will close that application, so make sure you are on the desktop.

The below Shut Down Windows screen will appear. Choose Restart to restart the system.