Mac RDP and Time Zone Redirection

This issue is becoming more and more popular as an increasing number of users have been accessing terminal servers from the Mac RDP client.

The Mac RDP client does not forward the client time zone correctly. When Mac RDP clients connect to Windows 2008 or Windows 7 computers remotely, the system time appears to be correct, but it's really set to "(GMT -07:00) Unknown time zone" [May be different for those outside of PST]. This issue is most apparent when launching Outlook and looking at calendar appointment times.

Server 2008 and Windows 7 include a utility called tzutil that you can use to update the time zone. Example: TZUTIL /s "Pacific Standard Time"

Or this can be resolved by turning off the TS Time Zone Redirection GPO, but then all users get same time zone:

GPO for it:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Terminal Services\Terminal Server\Device and Resource Redirection\Allow time zone redirection

(Source: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc725887(WS.10).aspx)

Edit: Aforementioned GPO is location on a Server 2003 DC, for Server 2008 DC look in: Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Device and Resource Redirection\Allow time zone redirection

Enable Remote Desktop... REMOTELY!

I often need to RDP to a client's computer from another machine on the domain, however it becomes problematic when RDP is not enabled on their machine. Well here is a registry hack that you can do to enable RDP ... wait for it... REMOTELY!

1.Logon to a machine on the same network as as a domain admin:Start > run > regedit.

**Insert cautionary registry editing warning here**

2.From regedit: File > Connect Network Registry… > Input the computer name you need to enable RDP on and click OK

3.Navigate to the HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server key and change the “fDenyTSConnections” REG_DWORD value from 1 TO 0 (Remote Desktop enabled)

4.Reboot the target machine from command prompt with: “shutdown /m \\computername /r” MAKE SURE YOU USE THE /m FLAG OTHERWISE YOU COULD ACCIDENTALLY REBOOT THE SERVER!

5.RDP to their machine

6.Send Mike a cookie

I would assume this goes without saying, but just in case, the target computer must be connected to the same network as the machine you are on.