Make Microsoft Remote Desktop A Portable App
Microsoft Remote Desktop is one of those great day-to-day tools that I use quite often. If you use multiple Windows computers in different locations, it allows you to connect to them and use them as if you were sitting directly in front of them. If you access computers remotely from guest machines where you use portable apps, you can make Remote Desktop a portable application with relative ease.
To make Remote Desktop a portable app, you will need to copy four files from your Windows system. Two of them, mstc.exe and mstscax.dll are located in the C:\WINDOWS\system32 directory.
The other two, mstsc.exe.mui and mstscax.dll.mui, are located in a subdirectory within C:\WINDOWS\system32. The name of the subdirectory will depend on the language and locale of the Windows system you are using. If your language is English and you are in the USA, they will be located in C:\WINDOWS\system32\en-us.
When you copy the files to your drive, you will want to replicate this structure. Let’s say you are in the USA, your portable drive is Y:, and your portable apps reside in Y:\PortableApps. You can create a new Folder in PortableApps called Y:\PortableApps\RemoteDesktop
Within the RemoteDesktop directory, you would create a subdirectory with your locale. If you have an English installation in the USA, create a subdirectory called en-us. Then copy mstsc.exe and mstscax.dll into RemoteDesktop and mstsc.exe.mui, and mstscax.dll.mui into en-us.
That’s all there is to it! Now you can take portable Remote Desktop client on the road with you. I prefer Remote Desktop to VNC, because I find it to be faster at higher color depths.
What portable remote control program(s) do you use?
(By) Jorge Sierra is a geek of all trades. Be sure to check out his blog, GeekLad
Cool, thanks for that.
now how do I host Remote Desktop on Vista Premium?
It is possible to do and there is info out there on how to do it. Perhaps I’ll write up a post on it.
That would be good. Some of the info I have come across seems to be outdated as M$ blocked a previous hack. It would be good to clarify the info.
Thanks again.
(Comments wont nest below this level)Two of them, mstc.exe and mstscax.dll are located in the C:\WINDOWS\system32 directory.
maybe mstsc.exe ?
You need four files in total: mstc.exe, mstscax.dll, mstc.exe.mui, and mstscax.dll.mui. mstsc.exe and mstscax.dll are in C:\WINDOWS\system32 and the others in the local directory (C:\WINDOWS\system32\en-us if you’re in the US with an English installation).
I tried what you suggested, but could not find the *.*.mui files in the en-us subdirectory. In fact, the laptop from which I copied the mstc.exe and mstscax.dll did not have an en-us subdirectory and did not have the *.mui files.
But Remote Desktop worked without them. I remote desktopped to another computer.
(Comments wont nest below this level)“What portable remote control program(s) do you use?”
MSTSC for sure, but I’ve found lately that having a free Logmein account or using Teamviewer have proved to be priceless (no pun intended). I realize it’s a bit off topic to mention them, but if the environment allows the use of these tools, I would highly recommend them.
…Obviously probably not for corporate LAN use
Also, I like mRemote for management.
http://www.mremote.org/wiki/Downloads.ashx
Portable version available.
I wonder why you’d want to take a portable version of mstsc with you when it’s built in on every windows OS since windows 2000 ? And for those rare occasions where you need it on Windows 9x or NT, you can download a client for those too from MS. And your portable mstsc isn’t going to work on Linux or Mac either, there are native clients for those OSses too though…
I think that for many users, remote access software could be used for more than just windows. The best products are those that support multiple platforms, such as Proxy Pro 6, LogMeIn and PCAnywhere, etc.
if you want to install remote desktop in windows 2000 just download it to microsoft website (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx). I install it on my windows 2000 pro and it works fine. I tried a lot of remote control software but remote desktop is the fastest in windows.
Having a speedy portable remote desktop is a very nice commodity. This is perfect for the traveling business man. Great post.
Vielen Dank für diesen Vorschlag. Ich schicke Dir einen Gruß aus Deutschland.
Thanks for the suggestion. I send you regards from Germany.