If the specific application not working in Windows Server 2019 environment?

One Program, One Session: Streamlining Logins on Your RDS Server

Tired of users getting distracted by a cluttered desktop or wasting time launching essential apps when they log in to your RDS server? This guide shows you how to streamline the login process and boost user productivity by automatically launching a single program upon login.

Note: This method applies to both Windows Server 2008 and 2012, but requires an additional registry tweak for Server 2016 and 2019. Managing multiple users on a Remote Desktop Services (RDS) server can be a challenge. Often, you'll want to automatically run a specific program when a user logs in to their session. This can help streamline the user's experience and ensure they have access to the tools they need right away.

Step 1: Specify the Program (Windows Server 2008 & 2012)

1. Log in as an administrator.
2. Open AD Users and Computers from Administrative Tools.
3. Double-click the user account you want to configure.
4. Go to the Environment tab.
5. Check the box "Start the following program at logon:"
6. Enter the full path to your desired program (e.g., C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe

Step 2: Additional Tweak for Server 2016 (Registry Edit)

1. Back up your registry as a precaution.
2. Open Regedit.
3. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
4. Create a new DWORD value named "fQueryUserConfigFromDC" and set it to 1.
5. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT\Terminal Services
   Name: fQueryUserConfigFromDC
   Type: Reg_DWORD
   Value: 1 (Decimal)
6. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\<Winstation Name> (replace <Winstation Name> with the actual name of your winstation).
7. Create a new DWORD value named "fQueryUserConfigFromDC" and set it to 1.
8. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\<Winstation Name>\
   Name: fQueryUserConfigFromDC
   Type: Reg_DWORD
   Value: 1 (Decimal)
9. Reboot your server.

Bonus: Group Policy Approach (Optional)

For centralized management, you can use Group Policy to apply this setting to multiple users or even all users on the server. Here's how:

1. Open Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to: User Configuration > Policies > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Remote Session Environment
3. Enable the setting "Start a Program on Connection" and enter the path to your desired program.
4. Disable the setting "Always Show Desktop on Connection" (optional but recommended for a cleaner experience).
5. Run "gpupdate /force" in an elevated command prompt and/or reboot the server.

Benefits:

• Streamlined login experience: Users immediately start working with the needed application, saving time and boosting productivity.
• Reduced distractions: No cluttered desktop or unnecessary applications to close.
• Centralized management: Use Group Policy for wider implementation and easier maintenance.

By following these steps, you can create a more efficient and user-friendly login experience on your RDS server. So go ahead and give it a try!