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====== How to Clear Hung Remote Desktop Sessions ======

===== The Problem =====

Occasionally, an RDS session (or Parallels RAS Remote Desktop session) will 'hang' in the log-off (sign-out) stage.  This can make it impossible for the user to log back in (sign back in) and get back to work.  {{:quick_guide:rds_session_hung_2.png?400 |Stuck Signing Out}}

===== The Cause =====

The most common cause of these hung sessions is that there is a hung application process causing the Sign Out process not to complete normally.

The **most common applications (that we've noticed) causing problems**:

  * Microsoft Paint
  * Microsoft Word
  * Microsoft Excel
  * Microsoft Outlook

===== What To Do About It =====

Regardless, when using RDS or Parallels RAS, **it is sometimes necessary for an administrator to manually intervene** to get things rolling again.

{{ :quick_guide:rds_session_hung_1.png?500|Open the Task Manager}}

You can **take these steps to clear a hung RDS session**:

  - **Log into the RDS server as an administrator**
    * Generally using the Domain Administrator account
    * You can use the Parallels Client or the Microsoft Remote Desktop Client
  - **Open the Task Manager** on the RDS server {{ :quick_guide:rds_session_hung_3.png?500|Task Manager Users Tab}}
    * Right-click an empty spot on the Task Bar and choose Task Manager
  - **Select the Users tab**
  - **Right-click the hung session** (user name) and choose **Sign Off**
  - **If** the session completes the Sign Out operation and disappears, **you are done**
  - **If** the session is **still hung**:
    - **Click on the small triangle** to the left of the hung session to **expand the view**
    - **Right-click the suspect application** process (usually a Microsoft app) and select **End Task**
    - **If** the session completes the Sign Out operation and disappears, **you are done**
  - **If** the session is **still hung**:
      - **Right-click the next suspect** application process (usually a Microsoft app) and select **End Task**
      - Continue to kill processes **until the session completes the Sign Out operation**

{{ :quick_guide:rds_session_hung_5.png?500|Sign Out the Hung Session}}

{{ :quick_guide:rds_session_hung_4.png?500|Click Triangle to Expand the View}}

{{ :quick_guide:rds_session_hung_6.png?500|Right-Click and End Task}}

Once the session is completely signed out, the user will then be able to sign back in and get to work.
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