Creating a Windows ThinPC Thin Client

I have spent some time researching windows Thin PC Thin Clients. My self and a colleague Chris Shaw came up with a solution that loads a RDP file from the root directory (C:\>).

My RDS environment has multiple VDI pools so i needed to use a RDP file to load VDI sessions.

You can use redirection using a Connection Broker but there are limitations: you can only redirect to one VDI pool if you have a Highly Available Connection Broker configuration.

Redirection would be great for organisations that have one template but for organisations that wish to use multiple VDI pools, i would recommend using RDP files.

Creating a Windows Thin PC Client – MSTSC Client

You will need to create a number of files in a folder stored on the root directory C:\MSTSC\

Name the first file “Installmstsc.cmd”

add the following content

@rem Add a user called "user" with the password "user"
net user user user /ADD /PASSWORDCHG:NO /FULLNAME:"RDS User"
net localgroup administrators /add user
@rem Add the following registry key changes:
regedit /s C:\mstsc\mstsc-1.reg
@rem This allows the user account to auto login. Log in as local Administrator by holding the Shift key when logging out
@rem Reboot the system to modify the user account shell.
C:\mstsc\shutdown.exe -r -t 5

Create the file name “Launchmstsc.cmd”

@echo off
:RDS
"C:\mstsc\RDP.RDP"
goto RDS

create a file named “LaunchMSTSC.vbs”

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
WshShell.Run chr(34) & "C:\mstsc\launchmstsc.cmd" & Chr(34), 0
Set WshShell = Nothing

Create a file named “mstsc-1.reg”

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"DefaultUserName"="user"
"DefaultPassword"="user"
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"
"ForceAutoLogon"="1"
"LogonType"="0"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce]
"UserRunOnce"="C:\\mstsc\\UserRunOnce.cmd"

Create a file named “mstsc-2.reg”

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"Shell"="wscript C:\\mstsc\\launchmstsc.vbs"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop]
"WallPaper"=""
"OriginalWallPaper"=""
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
"DisableTaskMgr"="1"
"DisableLockWorkstation"="1"
"DisableChangePassword"="1"

Create a file named “UserRunOnce.cmd”

regedit.exe /s C:\mstsc\mstsc-2.reg
net localgroup administrators /remove user
C:\mstsc\shutdown.exe -r -t 5 -f -c "Now rebooting"

Add the RDP file

You can download the VDI pool RDP file from the RDWeb site. Rename the file to RDP.RDP or to what ever your preference is. If you do rename the file, ensure you change all the scripts to match the new RDP file name.

Copying the Shutdown file

Copy the shutdown file from the following directory:

 C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-shutdown-event-tracker_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7600.16385_none_02aa6dd4294b8d5f

Completed Folder for RDP Thin Client:

• InstallMSTSC.cmd
• LaunchMSTSC.cmd
• LaunchMSTSC.vbs
• mstsc-1.reg
• mstsc-2.reg
• RDP.RDP
• UserRunOnce.CMD
• Shutdown file

You can download these files from my Public Skydrive:

You will need to run the InstallMSTSC.cmd as the administrator. you will then be prompted with a shutdown message.

Once the client shutdowns and reboots, you will be presented with a MSTSC login screen for the assigned VDI pool.

There you have it – Windows ThinPC Thin Client.

We have tried this on IGEL UD3 W7 clients, Wyse Z90DE7 terminals, and on Windows Thin PC OS from MS software assurance.