Azure windows VM shows full black screen in RDP [closed]

Question

I am having a php based webapp on azure windows server 2012 vm. Everything was fine till now. Since a day, whenever I try to connect through RDP, a full black screen get displayed, and after sometime the RDP window gets closed automatically. On Azure portal, the VM looks fine. I tried redeploying, restarting, still no success, and the vm is still working (the webapp is accessible and working) and the IP is static. What should I do to resolve this?

Barbusse

Answer 1

This is known to be an issue over screen resolutions or slow internet connections / client connectivity problems.

I'd suggest first to try to see if this is a problem with resolution on your client. Try the following:

1. Click on the black RDP windows (to select it) and press CTRL-ALT-END to bring up the Windows Security screen and select LOG OFF, then log back in (If you're using a RDP client like e.g. remote desktop manager, click the Send Ctrl-alt-delete so the keys are actually sent to the session).
2. Start a new rdp client on your desktop but before you click connect, click the show options link, click the display tab and set the DISPLAY CONFIGURATION to a low resolution like 640×480

When connection you can also try to disable Bitmap caching (click the experience tab and disable bitmap caching before connecting).

This is a known problem, check Microsoft knowledge base

If this doesn't work, I would investigate further too see if there's any network issues / firewall issues dropping your RDP packages.

Myoglobin

When I pressed CTRL-ALT-END, nothing happened, black screen stayed the same. lowest resolution also did nothing. I already tried disabling bitmap caching. Also, on other community forums (where similar problem is documented), people say that they get the 'welcome screen' of windows. But what I am getting is complete black, I enter the credentials, the session gets connected, and black screen appears. – Barbusse

From your comment, I came to know about Remote Desktop Manager, so I gave it a shot, and remote connection started working normally after that. (Don't know how). – Barbusse

Glad that it got you on the track and fixed your problem. Guessing it's a display settings issue; perhaps remote desktop manager has some better built in handling for dealing with resolutions / screen issues and were able to fix the settings (it uses the same underlying rdp). – Myoglobin

Simply signing out and reconnecting solved the problem for me. I believe part of my problem was that I was using Windows on a low RAM VM so performance issues should be expected. – Freeness

I used remote desktop manager, and set the resolution to a lower one and it worked, thanks. – Bohn

Answer 2

I had this exact same issue. I started Task Manager (CTRL+ALT+END as explained in one of the other answers) and then started explorer.exe from File>Run new task to get the desktop.

Apparently explorer.exe had not started automatically when I first logged on, hence the blank screen.

Starlastarlene

Answer 3

I fixed this by remoting using a computer that had remote allowed. My current computer had Windows Home Edition, but I had a VM on virtual box with Windows Pro. So I remoted using that VM.

Epicedium

Answer 4

I had this problem and i tried all the suggestions. Nothing worked...

I ended up restarting the VM in Azure which fixed the problem.

This solution is not recommended thou. Its was a last resort.

To restart the VM in Azure, login and select the VM you want to access. Click the Restart button at the top of the list.

... then pray

Victimize