Getting the New Windows 8 Remote Desktop client on your Windows 7 system

2012/08/12 | By | 11 Replies More
The Remote Desktop Client Connection Software that comes with Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 features a new menu called the Remote Commands menu. This menu allows you to send special commands, such as a start menu, accessing the Windows 8 / Windows Server 2012 Charms, switching apps, snapping apps and application specific app commands.

If you are in a windowed remote desktop session you can access the remote commands by selecting the remote desktop icon and then choosing remote commands.

If you are running remote desktop full screen click the down arrow on the connection bar to display the remote commands.

If you can’t wait for Microsoft to publish a version of the new Remote Desktop client for windows 7, then all is not lost. There is a way for Admins still running windows 7 desktops to get the new version on their systems. You have to copy four files from a Windows 8 x64 or Server 2012 system to your windows 7 x64 system.  If using windows 7 x86 then copy the files from a windows 8 x86 system

  • mstsc.exe  (in c:windowssystem32)
  • mstscax.dll  (in c:windowssystem32)
  • mstsc.exe.mui  (in c:windowssystem32en-US)
  • mstscax.dll.mui  (in c:windowssystem32en-US)

Instead of overwriting the existing files on your windows 7 system (in case you ever want to revert back to the old version) create a new folder called Remote Desktop 8 anywhere on your system.  I put my folder on my desktop. Now copy mstsc.exe and mstscax.dll to that folder. Inside that folder create another folder called en-US and put the other two files into that. If you’re running a version that is not English then you will need to put the two mui files in the folder that corresponds to your language version.

Running mstsc.exe will now launch the new RDP client with the new remote commands on your Windows 7 system.

Or if you prefer you can download my installers that will automate the process for you.  Available for Windows 7 or Server 2008  in x86 and x64 versions.  English Only

Download Button5

The official Microsoft version has now been released. Check here for links and info or instead of downloading each file from the above link and running them individually get my MS Windows 8 RDP all-in-one combo updater package that automates the process into one installer.

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  1. Getting the New Windows 8 Remote Desktop client on your Windows 7 system « Next – Next – Next – Finished | 2012/09/16
  2. | peacon | 2012/12/31
  1. Kanaida says:
    2012/09/22 at 7:33 am

    Tried it, didn’t work. ‘The system cannot find the file specified’ C:UsersUserDocumentsWin8 RDP Clientmstsc.exe.MUI
    I have a folder called en-US and en-GB with the same MUI files inside, same error.

    Any ideas?

  2. peter says:
    2012/10/23 at 9:26 am

    HI.
    works great, but do you have any idea why a TS Gateway connection isn’t supported?
    Thanks

    • gandalf50 says:
      2012/10/24 at 12:39 am

      Thanks for pointing that out. I don’t use the TS Gateway tab normally so I hadn’t noticed that it was greyed out. I may be missing some dependencies to allow the gateway. Will check into it.
      The official Microsoft version has been released. Check my blog here http://wp.me/p1MPho-a8

  3. John says:
    2012/10/24 at 8:35 am

    We use the gateway also. Thank you

  4. jwarns13 says:
    2013/02/16 at 11:03 am

    did you ever find a solution to the tsgateway button being greyed out issue?

  5. best table saws says:
    2013/12/18 at 12:23 am

    Excellent article! We are linking to this great content
    on our website. Keep up the good writing.

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