Workaround to Run VNC Server in Windows Vista
There is no built-in Remote Desktop feature in Windows Vista Starter, Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Home Basic N, and Windows Vista Home Premium editions of Windows Vista operating system. So in order to be able to remote control and access or take control of a Windows Vista PC from another computer, a desktop sharing system or remote control server has to be installed and running on Windows Vista machine. One of the popular desktop sharing system is VNC (Virtual Network Computing) in the flavors or variants of RealVNC, UltraVNC, TightVNC and etc. However, when you try to install and run the VNC Server as a service mode in Windows Vista, there will be problem trying to connect and remote control to the Windows Vista computer from another computer by using VNC client.
In the Event Viewer after failed while attempting to gain access control to remote Windows Vista computer, user can see the following error:
Unable to connect session to Console. Access Denied. or Connection closed unexpectedly. or No connection or connection reset by peer (10054).
Beside, on the Windows Vista machine which users try to install VNC Server (from RealVNC, UltraVNC or any other VNC based server), Windows Vista will display a few symptoms or error messages as below:
Access Denied if you’re not running or installing or configuring VNC server as an Administrator.
VNC Server (Service) icon in the Notification Area displays the message ‘Not Accepting Incoming Connections’ error message.
VNC Server (Service) icon in the Notification Area (system tray) does not display the server’s assigned IP address.
When trying to execute and run VNC server in user mode, same error message of ‘Not Accepting Incoming Connections’ appeared.
The problems are caused by Windows Vista new security feature called Session 0 Isolation. Previous versions of Windows ran system services in the same login session as the locally logged-in user (Session 0). In Windows Vista, Session 0 is now reserved for these services, and all interactive logins are done in other sessions, causing VNC server unable to accept incoming remote control connection request.
So in order to make VNC server on Windows Vista works properly, the workaround resolution (at least until the VNC developers to come out with proper fix or update to address the new security constraint in Windows Vista) is to run VNC server in user mode.
- Ensure that you have the exceptions to allow incoming connections to winvnc4.exe or to port 5900 (or any other port number that you want to allocate to VNC server listening port), or simply turn off firewall.
- VNC server is detected as potentially unwanted behaviour in integrated Windows Defender. Create a rule to ignore this warning.
- If you want to newly or fresh install VNC server, do not install the VNC Service by not checking or selecting the “Register VNC Server Service” option, or else you will have “Not Accepting Connections” error even when trying to run the VNC Server in User Mode.
- If you have already install VNC Service (register VNC Server as a service to start automatically when Windows Vista starts), unregister the VNC Service.
- If you want to configure settings of VNC Server, right click on “Configure VNC Server” menu item and select “Run as” for administrative privileges so that the VNC configuration tool can access to the relevant parts of the registry.
Then start VNC Server in User Mode (may need to Run as Administrator too), and you will be able to connect, remote control and access to Windows Vista computer desktop from another computer properly.
Some users reported that RealVNC Personal Edition and Enterprise Edition (both need payment) supports Windows Vista, while RealVNC Free Edition still waiting for workarounds. And UltraVNC has released Vista supported and compatible VNC server/client.
On the other hand, check out solution for those who facing black screen on remote VNC connection to Vista.
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November 7th, 2009 06:10
Figured this out too, but its just a poor workaround. Any task that creates a security window will lock out vnc sessions till the prompt times out (a min or two).
Thanks for trying
September 18th, 2009 01:01
Seriously, I’ve read this article so many times and it just irritates me!! Its not a workaround. It is a completely different tactic. Its like saying, “My favorite Ice Cream place is closed. How can I get that ice cream? I Know! I will go to the store and buy ice cream from there!”
Yes, it IS better than nothing, but it is NOT a work around.
September 3rd, 2009 05:41
Ok, all that worked great, but as soon as the workstation is locked, VNC Viewer won’t accept incoming traffic. I cannot leave my workstation on, logged-in and unattended when I am not there, so I must set the screensaver to lock the workstation after a certain period of inactivity.
In previous versions of windows, VNC would allow you to log into a locked workstation. Maybe this was because it was service-mode. Does anyone have a workaround?
May 22nd, 2009 04:32
thank you so much for the workaround. finally its working now on my vista machine as well. thank you once again for the great tip.
March 17th, 2009 13:07
[...] running under Vista, you need to run VNC server in user mode rather than server mode. You can click here for full details, but basically you need to unregister the VNC service if it’s running (there’s an [...]
March 10th, 2009 07:39
[...] Workaround to Run VNC Server in Windows Vista My Digital Life Or you could get RealVNC Enterprise edition that officially supports Windows Vista. Screenshots from my Nokia 5800 XM: (Fullscreen 1680×1050 –> 640×360) … … And the link to the application, of course: Code: [...]
January 26th, 2009 03:45
Thanks. Now it works nicely.
December 26th, 2008 07:12
Excellent work around, followed it to the letter and it works a dream. Thanks a bunch. I was really starting to get pissed off having to walk next door, and now i dont have to ! Excellent !
November 7th, 2008 09:06
After using this workaround I’ve also just managed to setup VNC Server (RealVNC in my case) to start automatically in Vista (Home Premium) like this:
Start Button > All programs > RealVNC > VNC Server 4 (User-Mode)
Right-Click “Run VNC Server”
Choose “Pin to Start menu”
(or you could just create a shortcut on you desktop)
navigate to:
“C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup” directory where username is your user logon.
Start Button
drag “RunVNCserver” into the directory (or the shortcut you created)
It should now start automatically when you reboot.
Hope it helps someone else
Maggie
November 7th, 2008 07:59
Great workaround. Thanks. I’ve been wanting to use this on Vista for quite a while but gave up a few months ago. Just decided to have another google and found your page; it’s now working great. Keep up the good work.
(I had no problems moving around your page)
October 20th, 2008 11:30
[...] Details on the workaround can be found here. [...]
July 18th, 2008 06:06
Something is seriously wrong with this page. If I try to use the arrow keys or page up/page down I get thrown to the bottom of the page.
July 17th, 2008 23:07
i really like that stripper`s photo on right side.
thanks much
April 10th, 2008 02:25
Thanks for posting this, it has turned out to be tremendously helpful for me, and solved my problem exactly. Although… I still wish I could run vnc as a service, but this will get me through the day
March 10th, 2008 00:45
Thanks for the help, worked like a charm
March 4th, 2008 14:02
[...] used VNC for remote control , but the VNC server doesn’t seem to work too well in Vista. It can’t run as a service, so you have to run it in user mode. Silly me, I thought RA would be [...]
January 15th, 2008 04:50
Tina, press and hold the Windows key (between ctrl & alt), then press R, and release both. This will pop up the “run” dialog.
Type in “control userpasswords2″
Click allow, then click on the name you want to auto-login to, and uncheck “Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer.”
Click OK, and you are done. You may have to put in a password (for the login you chose), so go ahead and do that.
Now, whenever you turn your computer on, it will automatically log in to that specific user account without requesting it.
If you want to log into another account, simply log off and go to it.
October 17th, 2007 10:22
I was able to get the TightVNC to work on Vista Basic. I have a shortcut in the startup folder. The shortcut and the program I used the compatibility for XP under the properties. I now can restart and VNC start up no problem.
October 13th, 2007 07:18
We installed Real VNC in USER mode, not service mode and got the remote login to work from an XP PC. My problem is that on my one Vista Business PC I have full funcionality after logging in, but on the other Vista PC I can log in, see the desktop, but it’s not accepting my clicks. The other problem is how to get around the user login screen (say after power failure or restart…VNC can’t log in then)
September 26th, 2007 23:22
[...] The Problem: You have a client that is computer illiterate and you need to help them configure settings and programs on their PC. They are running Windows Vista Home Basic, so they do not have Remote Desktop, nor will most VNC programs (such as TightVNC or UltraVNC) work without major configuring of services and other settings. [...]
August 2nd, 2007 00:13
[...] TightVNC or UltraUNC in Windows Vista (assuming you can install and run the VNC Server properly by using various workarounds), and trying to remote VNC connect to the system, you may face a problem where the VNC screen [...]
July 28th, 2007 23:27
[...] *edit* A la http://www.mydigitallife.info/2…in-windows-vista [...]
April 12th, 2007 12:56
[...] VNC in Vista, issues, issues, issues [...]
April 3rd, 2007 08:58
[...] Workaround to Run VNC Server in Windows VistaMore secure way to disable UAC. Without losing Protected Mode IEUltra VNC HomepageMicrosoft’s Vista Homepage Published April 2, 2007 8:59 PM by Jeff Laughlin Filed under: Vista [...]
March 18th, 2007 23:17
[...] to remote control it. All I could see is black screen. The problem is sure enough a Vista one. See Workaround to Run VNC Server in Windows Vista » My Digital Life The problems are caused by Windows Vista new security feature called Session 0 Isolation. Previous [...]
March 9th, 2007 05:37
Works well after following the instruction above however can not change the incoming port to anything other than 5900. Not a problem as things are working till the next incarnation of RealVNC for me.
March 1st, 2007 22:18
[...] Bill Arnold describes the struggles with trying to get VNC to work on Vista and points to this step-by-step guide. This entry is filed under Home Page. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS [...]
February 22nd, 2007 23:29
Carl and Another Chris. control panel, user accounts, there is the option to turn off user account control
February 22nd, 2007 16:39
Any solution to the “Windows needs your permission” problem mentioned above. With those type of messages and being kick out every time, remote administration is useless.
February 22nd, 2007 01:26
Oh sure…you can get UltraVNC Server (1.0.2 Release) to work on Vista, but now parts of the UI on the remote-controlled Vista computer become a veritable MINE FIELD.
Why?
Click anything that causes Vista to display that stupid “Windows needs your permission” dialog box, and you immediately get kicked off your remote-control session. Just like that. Then you either have to:
1. Give the user the administrative password to type in (if that is what Vista wants),
2. Goad the user into clicking Allow/Continue (if that is what Vista wants), or
3. Wait like 2 minutes for the security dialog on the remote Vista computer to time out (if nobody is sitting in front of the machine) just to re-establish the UltraVNC connection.
Absolutely miserable.
February 20th, 2007 02:46
RealVNC Enterprise Edition 4.2.9 seems to run perfectly fine. I’m not sure if Personal Edition will work with Vista or not, but I’m sure the latest version will. The mirror driver works, but it’ll turn glass off. Without the mirror driver, all of Vista’s pretties are shown and it’s a tad slow, but I have file transfer and full control. Both the Java client and the normal client don’t complain one bit. It seems to be running in service mode as I have access to the logon screen and can login successfully.
February 17th, 2007 08:06
I’ve managed to get RealVNC working as user mode on my Vista Business PC, and it works fine, full system control…as long as the server properties window is open. As soon as that window is closed I lose all remote controls. I can still see screen updates but I’m unable to control anything. You know of any reason why, or how to fix it?
Chris
February 15th, 2007 02:35
Thank you for this informative and incredibly useful article. Is it still necessary to take this approach when using Real VNC Personal edition? They claim “Vista” compatibility…
February 13th, 2007 07:34
Peter,
Looks like this is not possible as i have been trying for several hours now.
The closest i got was opening a connection to my Vista Home Premium box (albeit with a blank black screen) then started a chat session, on the vista box i closed the chat session then i had full control through the VNC.
Which still doesn’t help either of us and pretty much just makes the whole situation that little bit more frustrating!
Anyways, im not going to give up as i desperately need some sort of remote tool as i am in the same situation as you. So if i find a solution i’ll be sure to post it here.
Lee
February 10th, 2007 03:34
[...] The Computer Vet Log My Digital Life – Workaround [...]
February 8th, 2007 22:09
Hi,
Your solution works, however I would like to be able to take over the Vista PC even before logging in (it is a Media Center with no screen, and I want to use my laptop to administer it remotely). For this I would need VNC to run as a service. Any ideas how this could be achieved?
Peter
December 31st, 2006 09:03
Hi Dale, you need to enable the network interface first.
December 31st, 2006 07:55
Hi:
I love your articles but I download the smaller version of the Spoof KMS Activation Server and ran it in VMWare Workstation v5.5.3. When I open the Virtual Windows and go to the Command Prompt in Admin Mode and type ipconfig, it won’tgive me an IP Address. I have tried several different ways to get it and it still will not give me the IP Address. It also tells me the that the media is disconnected which I know is not good for activating Windows Vista Enterprise. Can you help me?
Dale