Remote Desktop Connection has encountered a problem and needs to close

::Problem::

There is an error some of you already have or others will meet in the future that causes your Remote Desktop Connection to fail, usually with an error message as title says: Remote Desktop Connection has encountered a problem and needs to close.

If you check your event viewer through start – run – compmgmt.msc – event viewer – at application section you should see some errors about RDP saying something like this:

Faulting application mstsc.exe, version 6.0.6001.18000 (this is usually the version displayed for SP3), faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address Some_Hex_Code_Here.

or

Faulting application mstsc.exe, version 6.0.6001.18000, faulting module mstscax.dll, version 6.0.6001.xxxxx, fault address Some_Hex_Code_Here.

::Solution ::

While your computer is booting, before operating system load screen, press F8 multiple times with small pauses between pressing the key. When it will ask you, choose “safe mode”, the first option usually .

While in this mode, do the following:

1. Go to Start – run – cmd [press enter].

2. In here type the following commands:

copy  c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\lhmstsc.exe  c:\windows\RDP\mstsc.exe

copy  c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\lhmstsc.mui  c:\windows\RDP\en-US\mstsc.exe.mui

copy  c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\lhmstscx.dll  c:\windows\RDP\mstscax.dll

copy  c:\windows\ServicePackFiles\i386\lhmstscx.mui  c:\windows\RDP\en-US\mstscax.dll.mui

3. Restart and try again from the same shortcut you edited before.

If this doesn’t work either try reinstalling the Windows Service Pack 3 or copying the same files from another computer where it works correctly.

Last options if that doesn’t work either would be:

1. Scan your computer for malware. Yes, this can be the cause too… Update your anti-virus and start cleaning your computer. You are searching for a trojan and, as a hint, this is most likely to be the cause if it’s related to such a problem.

2. Try a System Restore to a previous date where your RDP worked fine.

One of this should work, most likely the first two possible solutions. If not, I’m waiting your private message so I can treat separately your case or add a comment and I will investigate more with some tests I will ask you to do.