RDP to Headless Media Server

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  1. Posts : 20
    8.1 pro
       #1

    RDP to Headless Media Server


    Not sure which area of the forum to post this, and thought the networking was probably the most relevant.

    I've built a home media server using a little AMD 5350 on a mini ITX board.

    I installed Windows 10 on it this week as I couldn't get my head around Linux at all.

    I'm now running the box as a headless media server, as it's all updated and configured, however I can't seem to RDP into it at all when it's headless.

    As soon as I connect it back to a monitor, and reboot it, RDP is fine.

    Is there a setting I'm missing, or can you not run Windows 10 on a headless machine?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    Are you also disconnecting the mouse and keyboard at the same time? Some bios won't boot without a mouse and keyboard - or there is a setting in bios to disable mouse and keyboard detection.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 20
    8.1 pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    NavyLCDR said:
    Are you also disconnecting the mouse and keyboard at the same time? Some bios won't boot without a mouse and keyboard - or there is a setting in bios to disable mouse and keyboard detection.
    thanks for the reply.

    Yes the mouse and keyboard are disconnected, however the issue occurs when the machine is on already.

    So yesterday morning for example, I had the machine connected to a monitor to finish setting up software etc, I unplugged the mouse, keyboard and monitor after that.

    The RDP session worked ok, but then later in the day wouldn't allow me access.

    When I got home I connected everything back up, and it was all completely locked. I couldn't even get a display to show on the monitor.

    After rebooting with peripherals connected everything worked.

    So I'm wondering if for some reason during the day, there was a random auto reboot, and then with no peripherals connected, that's whats caused it to lock up....hmmmmmmm

    I shall have to look into the bios over the weekend.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #4

    I highly recommend RDP Wrapper in your circumstance. Not sure if it will solve your specific issue or not but RPD Wrapper allows you to be in an RDP session without affecting the local console account logged it. So, when my media client computer boots, it automatically logs in to a local account created only to run KODI and KODI comes up on my TV which can be controlled by any number of remote control methods. With RDP Wrapper I can RDP into the media client computer on an administrator account (either MS account or local user account) and do what I need to do without the user account showing KODI on my TV being disturbed at all.

    Download the zip file. I run install.bat as administrator. Then run update.bat as administrator. Then I run the RDPConf program and look for the "listening" status and "fully supported" status. Works great!
    Releases · stascorp/rdpwrap · GitHub
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 20
    8.1 pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    NavyLCDR said:
    I highly recommend RDP Wrapper in your circumstance. Not sure if it will solve your specific issue or not but RPD Wrapper allows you to be in an RDP session without affecting the local console account logged it. So, when my media client computer boots, it automatically logs in to a local account created only to run KODI and KODI comes up on my TV which can be controlled by any number of remote control methods. With RDP Wrapper I can RDP into the media client computer on an administrator account (either MS account or local user account) and do what I need to do without the user account showing KODI on my TV being disturbed at all.

    Download the zip file. I run install.bat as administrator. Then run update.bat as administrator. Then I run the RDPConf program and look for the "listening" status and "fully supported" status. Works great!
    Releases · stascorp/rdpwrap · GitHub
    Never heard of this before. I'll look into it. Thanks
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 20
    8.1 pro
    Thread Starter
       #6

    So I checked my motherboard settings over the weekend and there is a setting in there for disabling USB during boot until into the OS.

    Not done anything with that so far, but have had the box connected to my monitors and USB devices over the weekend, so essentially running as a normal PC.

    Some odd things happened, that I'm not sure about now.

    Complete lock up of everything at some point when the PC wasn't in use.

    Was running find via RDP all day yesterday. Around 6pm left alone until this morning.

    Turned the monitors on, and there was a complete freeze of the system. No USB devices working at all. Networking not working either.

    Stuck on the Windows 10 lock screen. Unable to RDP into the machine either, it's as if it wasn't on the network.

    Something really odd. Rebooted and fine.

    My power settings are set to never sleep or lock screen as it's been designed to run as a headless machine.

    Completely baffled now
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 171
    Windows 10 Ent, Pro & Home
       #7

    Is your network devices set to never sleep, too? Device manager / properties of the network device, power management, uncheck all boxes.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 20
    8.1 pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    wyldman68 said:
    Is your network devices set to never sleep, too? Device manager / properties of the network device, power management, uncheck all boxes.
    I don't have a power management option in the network device properties at all.

    I've checked the advanced tab as well, and no power management options at all.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #9

    christof21 said:
    I don't have a power management option in the network device properties at all.

    I've checked the advanced tab as well, and no power management options at all.
    Do you have the latest drivers for the network adapter installed from either the manufacturer of the motherboard or from the manufacturer of the network adapter chip (probably Realtek or Intel)?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 20
    8.1 pro
    Thread Starter
       #10

    NavyLCDR said:
    Do you have the latest drivers for the network adapter installed from either the manufacturer of the motherboard or from the manufacturer of the network adapter chip (probably Realtek or Intel)?
    I checked the latest drivers from the Asus website and the network adapter already has the latest versions.

    I've updated the chipset and bios now as well to the latest versions for the MB.

    Been running fine for days since doing that, then actually using the machine this morning, was in the middle of loading a website up and everything froze, so I got to see it happen this time live.

    All peripherals stopped responding, screen froze, had to do a hard reboot.

    Is there any sort of system monitoring I can install that might help explain what was happening leading up to the system freeze?
      My Computer


 

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