Upgrading to Windows 11 24H2 causes remote desktop connections to Windows 7 machines not to show graphics correctly.

Question

After having upgraded Windows 11 to 24H2, the remote desktop connections to machines that use Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008R2 do not show graphic content correctly.

Returning to the previous Windows 11 version (23H2) has resolved the problem.

No problems with remote desktop connections to other machines with more recent operating systems. Unfortunately, the above-mentioned Windows 7 machine is "special", as it is used to control some very old industrial system control and it is not upgradable.

Answer 1

Try to download Remote Desktop App from Microsoft Store

Use it instead of classic RDC App. For me worked!

Answer 2

It looks like mstsc in Windows 11 24H2 no longer understands bitmap updates that contain multiple rectangles. It seems to draw the first rectangle (maybe) and ignore the rest. It's not clear whether this change is intentional.

FreeRDP updated their code to deal with this by restricting all bitmap updates to a single rectangle.

Answer 3

I found article

https://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/discussion-windows-11-build-26100-pc-24h2-retail-ge-release.88220/page-92

and there is helpful two comments

1. "If I use remote desktop client from MS store, it works well, without artifacts, but this client is very limited. It not maps printers, and I need to print."

Like suggest Richard (FreeRDP)- but below app is from MS

I tested app with icon with red circle and signs >< inside - and artefact (on APP via RDP) does not occur.

2. "I just tested and it seems to work.  You need to copy these files

C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe

C:\Windows\System32\mstscax.dll

C:\Windows\System32\en-US\mstsc.exe.mui

C:\Windows\System32\en-US\mstscax.dll.mui"

(on Client PC)

Before You will change this files i sugest create copy of theme.

I coped from C:\windows.old this files (but when You usage Windows in another language this en-US directory be diferent - corectly to OS language) and

I cope files on Windows Recovery Mode (press and hold shift when You click reboot OS; on Recovery mode -> Trabelshoot -> Advanced options -> Command Prompt) - becouse when OS normaly works, this files is lock.

Useful comands on cmd

-to change partition:

C:

-after chenges partition to C: - changes folders

cd c:\Windows\System32\

-to list files on directory or check file size

dir mstsc.exe

-delete files

del C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe

-copy files between folders (first is source directory second is destination directory)

copy C:\Windows.old\System32\mstsc.exe C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe

Answer 4

I get this same problem on our customers Windows 11 too.

I copy all the mstsc*.* (version 10.0.22621) from my notebook which doesn't update to 24H2 yet.

Copy those files to customers c:\windows\mstsc (10.0.22621). And make a shortcut for them to use temporarily until Microsoft release a fix

Answer 5

I copied the following files from the 23H2 version, from the Windows.old folder:

C:\Windows\System32\mstsc.exe

C:\Windows\System32\mstscax.dll

C:\Windows\System32\en-US\mstsc.exe.mui (en-US It depends on the Windows language)

C:\Windows\System32\en-US\mstscax.dll.mui (en-US It depends on the Windows language)

C:\Windows\SystemResources\mstsc.exe.mun

C:\Windows\SystemResources\mstscax.dll.mun

It worked fine

Of course I made a backup of the originals from 24H2 in case Microsoft takes notice and solves the problem

To copy these files I did it from the recovery environment using the command line

I hope it is useful to you