Disconnecting Remote Session In Microsoft Windows XP


If you disconnect, your programs continue to run on the remote computer. It’s effectively like pressing the Windows logo key+L with Fast User Switching enabled: The Welcome screen is visible, and the remote computer is available for another user. If you log on later—either locally or through a remote connection—you can pick up right where you left off. To disconnect, in the remote session, open the Start menu and choose Disconnect, which appears in place of the Turn Off Computer (or Shut Down, on domain-based computers) command.

A simpler alternative is to click the Close button on the title bar of the remote session. Either way, a confirmation dialog box awaits your answer before Remote Desktop Connection pulls the plug.

Logging off closes all your programs before disconnecting. To log off, in the remote session, open the Start menu and choose Log Off.

You can also turn off or restart the remote computer. To perform either task, in the remote session, press Ctrl+Alt+End or open the Start menu and choose Windows Security. If the remote computer is joined to a domain, the Windows Security dialog box appears; click Shut Down to turn off or restart the computer. If the remote computer is not a domain member, Windows Task Manager appears. Its Shut Down menu offers Turn Off, Restart, and Log Off commands.