Ed Andersen

Software Developer and Architect in Japan

Taskbar invisible over Remote Desktop

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Ed Andersen
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I frequently use Remote Desktop (RDP/Terminal Services) to access my machines running Vista SP1 RTM. 90% of the time, after connecting, I get this annoying problem with the Start bar:

image

Only the Start button itself is visible.

  • This happens on all my Vista machines, both SP0 and SP1
  • This happens no matter what version of Remote Desktop I am using, the XP version or the “new” Vista one
  • It only appears to happen when the computer was originally using the Aero DWM composition engine and originally in a different resolution to what I am asking the Remote Desktop session to render
  • It happens wether or not the taskbar is at the top or bottom of the screen

So far the only way to get the taskbar back I have found is to click the lonely Start button, click Windows Security, choose Start Task Manager, kill the explorer.exe process and start it again in the Task Manager from File > Run.

Subsequent Remote Desktop connections are then fine, but logging back into the machine from the console then back into Remote Desktop makes it disappear again. A bit frustrating, to say the least.

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Hi! 👋 I’m a Software Developer, Architect and Consultant living in Japan, building web and cloud apps. Here I write about software development and other things I find interesting. Read more about my background.

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Comments

6 responses to “Taskbar invisible over Remote Desktop”

  1. Matthias Avatar
    Matthias

    i have the same problem. it happens on the machine doing the remote desktop (client) and on the server side inside remote desktop as well.

    in case you find a fix tell me about it 🙂

    Reply
  2. Matthias Avatar
    Matthias

    i have the same issue on multiple machines. I am also using rdp a lot so this issue is absolutely annoying to say the least.

    if you find a solution tell me … i am searching too.

    cheers,
    matthias

    Reply
  3. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    I also have this problem, it never did it before but now it started everytime all of a sudden. Possibly due to some driver or software that was installed I’m guessing. Either way it is very annoying!!! Let me know if you find a fix!

    Reply
  4. Lorenzo Avatar
    Lorenzo

    Same issue on Windows Server 2008 Enterprise SP1.
    Same hack to fix (terminate and restart explorer.exe process).
    Using ATI Radeon 4800 HD.
    If someone has resolved it, please make a post.

    Reply
  5. Shawn Hicks Avatar
    Shawn Hicks

    This is a better fix than killing and restarting explorer.exe.

    I set this up so I could have a context menu when right clicking on the computer icon in the start menu:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Aero Flush\command]
    @=”rundll32.exe Dwmapi.dll,DwmEnableComposition”

    or run from a batch/shortcut:
    rundll32.exe Dwmapi.dll,DwmEnableComposition

    Reply
  6. MB Avatar
    MB

    Happens to be with Vista and a Radeon 3450 card. Anyone find a solid fix for this?

    Reply

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