Windows 10 V1903 black screen with Remote Desktop

Anonymous
2019-05-24T01:45:13+00:00

I upgraded my secondary machine from 1809 to 1903. When I access it now using Remote Desktop all I get is a black screen in the RDP windows. I then upgraded my primary machine to 1903 hoping that would help, but no. Fortunately I also have GoToAssist installed so I was able to log into the secondary machine that way and checked for updates, still no help. Finally I reverted it back to 1809 and Remote Desktop once again works. I could keep using GoToAssist but RDP over my local LAN is much faster.

As long as this version as been (more or less) gold before going public, I can't possibly be the first one with this issue. It's no big deal to me that my secondary is running 1809, it's primarily a file server, but upgrading would be nice.

Granted, that secondary system is an older Core2 Quad, but at 3.3GHz and 8GB of memory and a SSD, it's plenty fast enough. I suppose I could try a different video card, but it shouldn't be necessary for a feature update.

Anyone have some insight into why RDP isn't working. I've already been through all the "guesses".   :-)

*Modified title for accuracy*

*Original title: Windows 10 1903 (May update) black screen with Remote Desktop*

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Internet and connectivity

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2019-07-14T03:31:57+00:00

Workaround reported here is to set the group policy to force RD sessions to use XDDM instead of WDDM:

Gpedit.msc: Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows Components->Remote Desktop Services->Remote Desktop Session Host->Remote Session Environment

Moderator's note:

If Group Policy method doesn't works, open administrative Command Prompt, type this, and press Enter key:

REG ADD “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services” /v “fEnableWddmDriver” /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

Microsoft has also released update KB4512941, which addresses this issue:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4512941/windows-10-update-kb4512941

The update page mentions:

  • Addresses an issue that displays a black screen when you use Remote Desktop to connect to a machine running Windows 10, version 1903.

You can install KB4512941 and this would resolve the issue for you. 

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Anonymous
2019-05-30T19:52:43+00:00

In my case all Intel G41 drivers currently available, from Intel (2009), and from Microsoft (2013), showed black screen with RDP, even though they are Ok with the monitor connected to the PC.

So I've decided to use the "Microsoft Basic Graphics" driver, shown in the compatibility list when I tried to update the driver manually, and now RDP works.

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-08-14T12:20:32+00:00

    But someone else (Matthew Whelan) also has an issue with a different product (Carbon Black) which interestingly is also a web filtering solution. Very weird.

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-08-14T12:10:46+00:00

    Absolutely none of this works for me! I even changed the driver to a Microsoft basic Display Adapter and still the issue persists.[...]

    My PC is one of the very latest Intel NUCs, NUC8i7BEH, with the latest set of drivers. Windows 10 Pro 1903, build 18362.267

    My guess is that you are experiencing a different issue than the original poster (and many people reading) was.

    He had an old computer, with a pretty old graphics hardware, released in 2008. And the graphics driver, updated in 2013 for Windows 8.1, seems to have a flaw when used in relation with the recently upgraded RDP service.

    I agree the issue is likely to be related with the recent RDP upgrade for 1903, which seems to exercise more stress on the video driver, as explained by Denis [MSFT]. Most of us are serviced by the trick to use the basic (XDDM) driver in some form, either changing the normal driver or by preventing WDDM to be used via policy or the registry value fEnableWddmDriver. But it seems your case, perhaps because of the external Websence product, is a bit different. I hope you will find some solution.

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-08-14T11:28:25+00:00

    First, thanks a lot Denis to help us, this is MUCH appreciated.

    The fix is available in the Insider ring (for builds 18927+) and will be released in August as part of the cumulative update

    Cumulative update for 1903, 18362.295, installed here, on several computers. Guilty G41 or G43/G45 driver is still 8.15.10.2702. And RDP still shows a black screen.

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