Remote Desktop Connection in XP SP3

I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving a message
when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and my laptop. The
message says...."The pre-release version of Remote Desktop Connection has
expired......" I tried going back to a previous version, but it refused to
install saying mine was newer. Anyone else have this problem....and found a
solution?

thumbs2up wrote:
> I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving
> a message when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and
> my laptop. The message says...."The pre-release version of Remote
> Desktop Connection has expired......" I tried going back to a
> previous version, but it refused to install saying mine was newer.
> Anyone else have this problem....and found a solution?

Yes.

You have chosen to install Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (most likely)
and in doing so on your test machine (where else would you install
pre-release, unfinished updates to test?) you have taken the risk and now
should return your test machine to it's state prior to installing the
beta/pre-release/in testing/not final release yet software.

Since you should have nothing to lose (installation of a pre-release
software should only be done on a system you are willing/able to format and
rebuild at a moments notice - virtual machines with a revert capability are
great for this) when trying to install the pre-release software (Windows XP
SP3 Release Candidate 2) simply format and install your test machine that
you are trying to install upon.

Another option would be a cleanup of said test machine. Similar to one you
might do before installingb any major service pack full release. The only
real difference is that being a test machine - it is not as important you
backup anything...

- Uninstall unnecessary software.
- Update the hardware drivers from the hardware manufacturer's support
web pages.
- Use Disk Cleanup to clear all but the last restore point and to free up
some space not being used by much more than junk.
- Check for viruses/trojans/worms...
- Check for adware/spyware/malware...
- Use CHKDSK to check your hard disk drive for errors.
- Use DEFRAG to cleanup the drive a bit - tidy it up.

Then - once you have your test machine cleaned up - you could make a new
image of it (or however you plan to restore it each time you are done with
whatever tests you use it for) and you'd have a better testbed machine for
it.

However - being a pre-release product - there really is not a direct support
option available. You have a few options, however:

Start here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7c953a761.aspx

Which can lead you:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103822

and the forums set up specifically for the pre-release product:
http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/...2010&SiteID=17

And of course:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...ng=en#filelist

Where you can download it in different languages OR download a script that
sets a registry key on your system so you can get Windows XP SP3 Release
Candidate 2 from the Windows Update web page directly.

Hope that helps!

(In short - uninstall SP3-RC2 and wait for the final release...)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> thumbs2up wrote:
> > I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving
> > a message when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and
> > my laptop. The message says...."The pre-release version of Remote
> > Desktop Connection has expired......" I tried going back to a
> > previous version, but it refused to install saying mine was newer.
> > Anyone else have this problem....and found a solution?
>
> Yes.
>
> You have chosen to install Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (most likely)
> and in doing so on your test machine (where else would you install
> pre-release, unfinished updates to test?) you have taken the risk and now
> should return your test machine to it's state prior to installing the
> beta/pre-release/in testing/not final release yet software.
>
> Since you should have nothing to lose (installation of a pre-release
> software should only be done on a system you are willing/able to format and
> rebuild at a moments notice - virtual machines with a revert capability are
> great for this) when trying to install the pre-release software (Windows XP
> SP3 Release Candidate 2) simply format and install your test machine that
> you are trying to install upon.
>
> Another option would be a cleanup of said test machine. Similar to one you
> might do before installingb any major service pack full release. The only
> real difference is that being a test machine - it is not as important you
> backup anything...
>
> - Uninstall unnecessary software.
> - Update the hardware drivers from the hardware manufacturer's support
> web pages.
> - Use Disk Cleanup to clear all but the last restore point and to free up
> some space not being used by much more than junk.
> - Check for viruses/trojans/worms...
> - Check for adware/spyware/malware...
> - Use CHKDSK to check your hard disk drive for errors.
> - Use DEFRAG to cleanup the drive a bit - tidy it up.
>
> Then - once you have your test machine cleaned up - you could make a new
> image of it (or however you plan to restore it each time you are done with
> whatever tests you use it for) and you'd have a better testbed machine for
> it.
>
> However - being a pre-release product - there really is not a direct support
> option available. You have a few options, however:
>
> Start here:
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7c953a761.aspx
>
> Which can lead you:
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103822
>
> and the forums set up specifically for the pre-release product:
> http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/...2010&SiteID=17
>
> And of course:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...ng=en#filelist
>
> Where you can download it in different languages OR download a script that
> sets a registry key on your system so you can get Windows XP SP3 Release
> Candidate 2 from the Windows Update web page directly.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> (In short - uninstall SP3-RC2 and wait for the final release...)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

There is no option for uninstalling Windows XP SP3 on my computer and I have
the same problem with remote desktop. Can you help?
Thanks

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> thumbs2up wrote:
> > I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving
> > a message when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and
> > my laptop. The message says...."The pre-release version of Remote
> > Desktop Connection has expired......" I tried going back to a
> > previous version, but it refused to install saying mine was newer.
> > Anyone else have this problem....and found a solution?
>
> Yes.
>
> You have chosen to install Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (most likely)
> and in doing so on your test machine (where else would you install
> pre-release, unfinished updates to test?) you have taken the risk and now
> should return your test machine to it's state prior to installing the
> beta/pre-release/in testing/not final release yet software.
>
> Since you should have nothing to lose (installation of a pre-release
> software should only be done on a system you are willing/able to format and
> rebuild at a moments notice - virtual machines with a revert capability are
> great for this) when trying to install the pre-release software (Windows XP
> SP3 Release Candidate 2) simply format and install your test machine that
> you are trying to install upon.
>
> Another option would be a cleanup of said test machine. Similar to one you
> might do before installingb any major service pack full release. The only
> real difference is that being a test machine - it is not as important you
> backup anything...
>
> - Uninstall unnecessary software.
> - Update the hardware drivers from the hardware manufacturer's support
> web pages.
> - Use Disk Cleanup to clear all but the last restore point and to free up
> some space not being used by much more than junk.
> - Check for viruses/trojans/worms...
> - Check for adware/spyware/malware...
> - Use CHKDSK to check your hard disk drive for errors.
> - Use DEFRAG to cleanup the drive a bit - tidy it up.
>
> Then - once you have your test machine cleaned up - you could make a new
> image of it (or however you plan to restore it each time you are done with
> whatever tests you use it for) and you'd have a better testbed machine for
> it.
>
> However - being a pre-release product - there really is not a direct support
> option available. You have a few options, however:
>
> Start here:
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7c953a761.aspx
>
> Which can lead you:
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103822
>
> and the forums set up specifically for the pre-release product:
> http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/...2010&SiteID=17
>
> And of course:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...ng=en#filelist
>
> Where you can download it in different languages OR download a script that
> sets a registry key on your system so you can get Windows XP SP3 Release
> Candidate 2 from the Windows Update web page directly.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> (In short - uninstall SP3-RC2 and wait for the final release...)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

thumbs2up wrote:
> I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving
> a message when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and
> my laptop. The message says...."The pre-release version of Remote
> Desktop Connection has expired......" I tried going back to a
> previous version, but it refused to install saying mine was newer.
> Anyone else have this problem....and found a solution?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Yes.
>
> You have chosen to install Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (most
> likely) and in doing so on your test machine (where else would you
> install pre-release, unfinished updates to test?) you have taken
> the risk and now should return your test machine to it's state
> prior to installing the beta/pre-release/in testing/not final
> release yet software.
>
> Since you should have nothing to lose (installation of a pre-release
> software should only be done on a system you are willing/able to
> format and rebuild at a moments notice - virtual machines with a
> revert capability are great for this) when trying to install the
> pre-release software (Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2) simply
> format and install your test machine that you are trying to install
> upon.
>
> Another option would be a cleanup of said test machine. Similar to
> one you might do before installingb any major service pack full
> release. The only real difference is that being a test machine -
> it is not as important you backup anything...
>
> - Uninstall unnecessary software.
> - Update the hardware drivers from the hardware manufacturer's
> support web pages.
> - Use Disk Cleanup to clear all but the last restore point and to
> free up some space not being used by much more than junk.
> - Check for viruses/trojans/worms...
> - Check for adware/spyware/malware...
> - Use CHKDSK to check your hard disk drive for errors.
> - Use DEFRAG to cleanup the drive a bit - tidy it up.
>
> Then - once you have your test machine cleaned up - you could make
> a new image of it (or however you plan to restore it each time you
> are done with whatever tests you use it for) and you'd have a
> better testbed machine for it.
>
> However - being a pre-release product - there really is not a
> direct support option available. You have a few options, however:
>
> Start here:
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7c953a761.aspx
>
> Which can lead you:
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103822
>
> and the forums set up specifically for the pre-release product:
> http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/...2010&SiteID=17
>
> And of course:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...ng=en#filelist
>
> Where you can download it in different languages OR download a
> script that sets a registry key on your system so you can get
> Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 from the Windows Update web page
> directly.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> (In short - uninstall SP3-RC2 and wait for the final release...)

Pierre wrote:
>

Pierre,

Are you having a similar issue? Need to ask something else?
Go ahead and ask - perhaps someone can help...

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

thumbs2up wrote:
> I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving
> a message when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and
> my laptop. The message says...."The pre-release version of Remote
> Desktop Connection has expired......" I tried going back to a
> previous version, but it refused to install saying mine was newer.
> Anyone else have this problem....and found a solution?

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Yes.
>
> You have chosen to install Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (most
> likely) and in doing so on your test machine (where else would you
> install pre-release, unfinished updates to test?) you have taken
> the risk and now should return your test machine to it's state
> prior to installing the beta/pre-release/in testing/not final
> release yet software.
>
> Since you should have nothing to lose (installation of a pre-release
> software should only be done on a system you are willing/able to
> format and rebuild at a moments notice - virtual machines with a
> revert capability are great for this) when trying to install the
> pre-release software (Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2) simply
> format and install your test machine that you are trying to install
> upon.
>
> Another option would be a cleanup of said test machine. Similar to
> one you might do before installingb any major service pack full
> release. The only real difference is that being a test machine -
> it is not as important you backup anything...
>
> - Uninstall unnecessary software.
> - Update the hardware drivers from the hardware manufacturer's
> support web pages.
> - Use Disk Cleanup to clear all but the last restore point and to
> free up some space not being used by much more than junk.
> - Check for viruses/trojans/worms...
> - Check for adware/spyware/malware...
> - Use CHKDSK to check your hard disk drive for errors.
> - Use DEFRAG to cleanup the drive a bit - tidy it up.
>
> Then - once you have your test machine cleaned up - you could make
> a new image of it (or however you plan to restore it each time you
> are done with whatever tests you use it for) and you'd have a
> better testbed machine for it.
>
> However - being a pre-release product - there really is not a
> direct support option available. You have a few options, however:
>
> Start here:
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7c953a761.aspx
>
> Which can lead you:
> http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103822
>
> and the forums set up specifically for the pre-release product:
> http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/...2010&SiteID=17
>
> And of course:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...ng=en#filelist
>
> Where you can download it in different languages OR download a
> script that sets a registry key on your system so you can get
> Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 from the Windows Update web page
> directly.
>
> Hope that helps!
>
> (In short - uninstall SP3-RC2 and wait for the final release...)

Pierre wrote:
> There is no option for uninstalling Windows XP SP3 on my computer
> and I have the same problem with remote desktop. Can you help?

- Locate and utilize "Add or Remove Programs" in the "Control Panel"...
- Make sure the "Show Updates" box is checked...
- Uninstall (Remove) "Windows XP Service Pack 3 (32-bit x86) Release
Candidate 2" from the list...

It explains this in one of the links I have given (or in one of the links
off one of the pages that you can get to from the links I have given...) -
specifically:

Release notes for the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929

Uninstall information for the Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate

To uninstall Windows XP SP3, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
2. Click Change or Remove Programs.
3. Click Windows XP Service Pack 3 (936929), and then click Remove.
4. Restart the computer.

The name may be slightly different - but if you legitimately installed SP3
at this point and did not do anything like slipstream it into your
installation media and perform a clean installation with the new media -
it's there. ;-)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

There is a SP3 Refresh release you should be able to download and install to
fix this issue...

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

.....which came from this rather long thread on the BBR Microsoft forum...

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r202...re-has-expired

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

"thumbs2up" <thumbs2up@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FB8E1629-3926-4313-96A1-7D477F1115B2@microsoft.com...
> I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving a
> message
> when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and my laptop. The
> message says...."The pre-release version of Remote Desktop Connection has
> expired......" I tried going back to a previous version, but it refused
> to
> install saying mine was newer. Anyone else have this problem....and found
> a
> solution?
>
>

Well belay that reply since Shenan already posted this information. Sorry
about that...

--

Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience)

Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
mutual benefit of all of us...
The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights...
How to ask a question
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375

"Sooner Al [MVP]" <SoonerAl@somewhere.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:C265D2EF-4C0A-4CB4-A2D1-84787C0ABCEB@microsoft.com...
> There is a SP3 Refresh release you should be able to download and install
> to fix this issue...
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
>
> ....which came from this rather long thread on the BBR Microsoft forum...
>
> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r202...re-has-expired
>
> --
>
> Al Jarvi (MS-MVP Windows – Desktop User Experience)
>
> Please post *ALL* questions and replies to the news group for the
> mutual benefit of all of us...
> The MS-MVP Program - http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights...
> How to ask a question
> http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
>
> "thumbs2up" <thumbs2up@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FB8E1629-3926-4313-96A1-7D477F1115B2@microsoft.com...
>> I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving a
>> message
>> when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and my laptop. The
>> message says...."The pre-release version of Remote Desktop Connection has
>> expired......" I tried going back to a previous version, but it refused
>> to
>> install saying mine was newer. Anyone else have this problem....and
>> found a
>> solution?
>>
>>
>

Thanks for the help it is appreciated.
I had a computer build at a local shop and was given a CD with XP Pro SP3 to
install on the machine. On the System it says that I have SP3 but on the Add
and Remove program there is no such thing. It does not give me the option of
uninstalling SP3. I followed the link for the refresh update and installed
it, so far so good! Hopefully Microsoft will release the final version of
SP3 soon.
Thanks again for all the help.

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> thumbs2up wrote:
> > I've had XP SP3 for a while now and just today I started receiving
> > a message when I try to use Remote Desktop on both my desktop and
> > my laptop. The message says...."The pre-release version of Remote
> > Desktop Connection has expired......" I tried going back to a
> > previous version, but it refused to install saying mine was newer.
> > Anyone else have this problem....and found a solution?
>
> Shenan Stanley wrote:
> > Yes.
> >
> > You have chosen to install Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 (most
> > likely) and in doing so on your test machine (where else would you
> > install pre-release, unfinished updates to test?) you have taken
> > the risk and now should return your test machine to it's state
> > prior to installing the beta/pre-release/in testing/not final
> > release yet software.
> >
> > Since you should have nothing to lose (installation of a pre-release
> > software should only be done on a system you are willing/able to
> > format and rebuild at a moments notice - virtual machines with a
> > revert capability are great for this) when trying to install the
> > pre-release software (Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2) simply
> > format and install your test machine that you are trying to install
> > upon.
> >
> > Another option would be a cleanup of said test machine. Similar to
> > one you might do before installingb any major service pack full
> > release. The only real difference is that being a test machine -
> > it is not as important you backup anything...
> >
> > - Uninstall unnecessary software.
> > - Update the hardware drivers from the hardware manufacturer's
> > support web pages.
> > - Use Disk Cleanup to clear all but the last restore point and to
> > free up some space not being used by much more than junk.
> > - Check for viruses/trojans/worms...
> > - Check for adware/spyware/malware...
> > - Use CHKDSK to check your hard disk drive for errors.
> > - Use DEFRAG to cleanup the drive a bit - tidy it up.
> >
> > Then - once you have your test machine cleaned up - you could make
> > a new image of it (or however you plan to restore it each time you
> > are done with whatever tests you use it for) and you'd have a
> > better testbed machine for it.
> >
> > However - being a pre-release product - there really is not a
> > direct support option available. You have a few options, however:
> >
> > Start here:
> > http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7c953a761.aspx
> >
> > Which can lead you:
> > http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=103822
> >
> > and the forums set up specifically for the pre-release product:
> > http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/...2010&SiteID=17
> >
> > And of course:
> > http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...ng=en#filelist
> >
> > Where you can download it in different languages OR download a
> > script that sets a registry key on your system so you can get
> > Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate 2 from the Windows Update web page
> > directly.
> >
> > Hope that helps!
> >
> > (In short - uninstall SP3-RC2 and wait for the final release...)
>
> Pierre wrote:
> > There is no option for uninstalling Windows XP SP3 on my computer
> > and I have the same problem with remote desktop. Can you help?
>
> - Locate and utilize "Add or Remove Programs" in the "Control Panel"...
> - Make sure the "Show Updates" box is checked...
> - Uninstall (Remove) "Windows XP Service Pack 3 (32-bit x86) Release
> Candidate 2" from the list...
>
> It explains this in one of the links I have given (or in one of the links
> off one of the pages that you can get to from the links I have given...) -
> specifically:
>
> Release notes for the Windows XP Service Pack 3 Release Candidate
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936929
>
> Uninstall information for the Windows XP SP3 Release Candidate
>
> To uninstall Windows XP SP3, follow these steps:
>
> 1. Click Start, click Run, type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK.
> 2. Click Change or Remove Programs.
> 3. Click Windows XP Service Pack 3 (936929), and then click Remove.
> 4. Restart the computer.
>
> The name may be slightly different - but if you legitimately installed SP3
> at this point and did not do anything like slipstream it into your
> installation media and perform a clean installation with the new media -
> it's there. ;-)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

While Shenan answered many questions, some not even asked, Al's
response was much more concise, helpful, and much less condescending.

Note to Shenan:
Some people use the process you proselytized so thoroughly. However,
if they are not done testing in their environment, they are not
usually forcefully removed from using the RC software, unless their
was a defined timeline. In my case, my tests were not complete, yet I
was prevented from continuing. That is an issue - because what I have
lost is time.