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Desktop Composition (Aero) in Windows Server 2008 RC0 Terminal Services - doesn't work?

Answered Desktop Composition (Aero) in Windows Server 2008 RC0 Terminal Services - doesn't work?

  • Thursday, September 27, 2007 9:29 AM
     
     
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    No matter how I try, I cannot enable Desktop Composition (Aero) when connecting to a Windows Server 2008 RC0 Terminal Services from an Aero-capable Vista client.
    I was able to do so in Windows Server 2008 Beta 3 on the same hardware.

     

    I am following instructions in this document:
    http://download.microsoft.com/download/9/b/8/9b8a5780-01f5-4482-ae78-c02f46c572cf/ws2008_beta3_reviewers_guide.doc

     

    - 'Desktop Experience' component is installed

    - Themes service is set to Automatic

    - TS color depth limit is set to 32bpp

    - The 'Desktop Composition' checkbox is enabled when connecting from the Vista client.


    Also I tried fiddling with some DWM-related registry settings, but the only success I had so far is enabling the Vista Basic theme.

     

    Thanks,
    iquazee

     

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  • Thursday, September 27, 2007 4:53 PM
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    Hi iquazee,

     

    Unfortunately, the Desktop Composition has been disabled in the RC0 build of WS08, Aero is only available from Vista.    Sad

     

    Thanks,

    Drew

     
  • Tuesday, October 02, 2007 9:08 AM
     
     
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    Actually, if you start the "Themes" service and enable all the visual effects ("Adjust for best appearance") on the "Advanced System Settings|Performance" dialog then reboot and select the "Windows Vista" theme, you'll get the Aero effects in Server 2008 RC0.

     

    I suspect that the advanced system setting for "Enable desktop composition" is the important piece that's disabled by default in Server 2008 (along with Theme support). And it is a reasonable default.

     

    If you're trying to use Server 2008 as a desktop system, you'll probably want to enable the Windows Audio service as well.

     
  • Thursday, December 20, 2007 6:36 AM
     
     
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    I'm hitting Iquazee's issue as well, running RC1.  I've enabled everything he's enabled, am connecting from Vista RTM, and still don't see Aero over RDP, though Aero works fine locally on both the Vista RTM client and Longhorn RC1 server..

     

     
  • Thursday, December 20, 2007 6:45 AM
     
     
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    Come to think of it... I wonder if updating the client to Vista SP1 RC and potentially using the new "/admin" option with the existing "/console" option will fix this.