Weird lingering windows when using apps from WSE RemoteApp
I have Outlook 2016 installed on a Windows Server 2016. When I launch it on a Windows 10 client after a few minutes I get these Remote windows with no title or action butons lingering on my screen.
This did not happen before when I had Windows Server 2012 R2 and a Windows 8 client.
I’ve attached a screen shot.
Best Regards.
- Kaloyan Avroniev asked 6 years ago
- last edited 6 years ago
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Sorry for missing this one until now… I never received an alert that you had posted it. Mea culpa!
Strange… I’m not exactly sure what could be causing that to happen. I’m not able to replicate it here with any of our in-house test servers and clients, and to date, no one else has reported a similar issue that I am aware of.
I know that Windows 10 clients have had some really strange connection issues going on with RemoteApps lately, but as far as I’m aware Microsoft has resolved most of those issues now. Therefore, about the best I can tell you here is to make sure that both the server, and all of your Windows 10 clients, have all of the latest Windows Updates installed on them. Also, I’d make sure that your Outlook 2016 installation on the server is fully up-to-date as well.
Lastly, you didn’t mention which version of Windows 10 you’re using (e.g. 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809, etc.), but if you’re not running at least 1803, then you might want to try upgrading your Windows 10 installation as well just to see if that helps you out any.
- Mike answered 6 years ago
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Both computers are on latest versions of windows:
- Client – Windows 10 Pro 1803
- Server – Windows Server 2016 Datacenter 1607
And the version of Outlook is – 2016 16.0.9126.2336
Another thing I forgot to mention is my client machine has two monitors.
The other issue I started noticing is when I have a window behind Outlook and I move the mouse over outlook it randomly shows me the window behind it, for example a browser. It’s kind of doing Alt+Tab on it’s own. Could be a related issue.
- Kaloyan Avroniev answered 6 years ago
- last edited 6 years ago
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The computer versions are:
- Client – Windows 10 1803
- Server – Windows Server 2016 Datacenter 1607
Outlook is 365 – 16.0.10730.20264
Also I’ve been having another issue where if there is a program on the same screen where outlook is open and I put it behind outlook then sometimes the background program pops up randomly.
I’ve added a link, https://photos.app.goo.gl/LDviYMVubNHUxM51A, to a video where you can see the behaviour. As I move my mouse across the screen you see Spotify popping up with PowerShell behind it, then it goes back to Outlook and so on.
- Kal answered 6 years ago
- last edited 6 years ago
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Alas, I’m afraid that those particular “issues” (i.e. bugs) have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with WSE RemoteApp. They are actually being caused by bugs within the Remote Desktop Connection client that’s built into Windows 10. The problems did not exist under Windows 10 Version 1703 (or earlier), but appeared when Microsoft released Windows 10 Version 1709.
Microsoft has since released some Windows Updates that have lessened the issues somewhat, but they still persist to this day (even under Version 1803 and 1809). Microsoft’s “Remote Desktop Services” TechNet forum is absolutely littered with folks complaining of the same issues (but Microsoft doesn’t seem to care very much – if at all!):
RemoteAPP after windows 10 update 1803 are slow and right mouse button is not responding (it reacts only sometimes)
(note that this one is totally insane with 625 replies and 112,091 views!!!)
W10 1709 RemoteApp – Pop-ups hidden behind main window
RDS 2016 – Outlook showing underlaying window
Windows Server 2012 R1 RemoteApp is bugged with Windows 10 1809 clients
Thus, I’m afraid that there’s nothing I can do about it from my end. We’ll just have to sit tight and wait to see if Microsoft steps up and fixes the issues with a future Windows Update, or in a newer version of Windows 10.
- Mike answered 6 years ago
- last edited 6 years ago
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Microsoft has released KB4480977 (January 17, 2019), which brings Windows Server 2016 up to OS Build 14393.2759. One of the “improvements and fixes” listed for the update is:
Addresses an issue that causes RemoteApp windows to disappear and reappear intermittently on Windows Server 2016.
Therefore, you might want to try installing all of the latest Windows Updates on your server just to see if it helps resolve the issue for you.
- Mike answered 6 years ago
- last edited 6 years ago
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I installed it, restarted and still having the issue above.
- Kal answered 6 years ago
- last edited 5 years ago
- Well that’s no good… Sorry to hear that. It’s most likely a client-side issue with the native Remote Desktop Connection client. While I’m (still) not able to replicate the weird lingering window issue here, I am seeing the intermittently disappearing and reappearing widows issue (even with KB4480977 installed on the server, and a fully up-to-date install of Windows 10 1809 on the client). It’s definitely getting better over time, but it’s obviously a somewhat annoying issue that we shouldn’t have to be dealing with. Hopefully Microsoft will be able to get it fixed at some point (especially since it’s a well known issue that has been reported to them many times and they’re actively working on fixing the problem).
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