Enable Remote Desktop by Using an Answer File

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Applies To: Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2

To enable remote desktop connections during an unattended installation, you must configure several settings and enable the Remote Desktop group in Windows® Firewall with Advanced Security.

To create an answer file to enable remote desktop connections

  1. On your technician computer, open Windows System Image Manager (Windows SIM). Click Start, type Windows System Image Manager, and then select Windows System Image Manager.

  2. Create a new answer file, or update an existing answer file. For more information, see Create or Open an Answer File and Best Practices for Authoring Answer Files.

    Add these settings to your answer file in the listed configuration pass:

Component Configuration pass

Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager

4 specialize

Networking-MPSSVC-Svc\FirewallGroups\FirewallGroup

4 specialize
  1. In the Answer File pane, configure these settings:
Component Value

Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-LocalSessionManager

fDenyTSConnections=false

Networking-MPSSVC-Svc\FirewallGroups\FirewallGroup

Active=true

Group=Remote Desktop

Profile=all
  1. (Optional) Specify how users are authenticated. Specifying the following setting will help make sure that users can connect remotely from computers that don't run Remote Desktop by using network-level authentication. To enable remote desktop connections from computers that are running any version of Remote Desktop, add this setting to your answer file:
Component Configuration pass Value

Microsoft-Windows-TerminalServices-RDP-WinStationExtensions

4 specialize

UserAuthentication=0
You're now ready to install your Windows image.

For more information about Windows® components and settings that you can add to an answer file, see the Unattended Windows Setup Reference.

See Also

Tasks

Configure Windows Firewall with Advanced Security by Using an Answer File
Deploy to a Remotely Controlled Computer by Using an Answer File

Reference

Automate Windows Setup

Other Resources

Configure Network Settings in an Unattended Installation
Windows Deployment Options