Very odd remote desktop issue

[edutech4schools]

Hi, I am able to connect externally to the schools remote desktop gateway from any Windows 7 laptops, I can even access using my home windows 8.1 laptop but almost none of the school windows 8.1 pro laptops can connect. they all give the following error,

 

'your computer can't connect to the remote computer because the remote desktop gateway server is unavailable'

 

I have one Windows 8.1 laptop that can access the remote server and this was set up the same as the other windows 8.1 laptops. All laptops work internally including the ones that do not work outside the network.

 

This is becoming a pain as I have tried everything I can think of.

 

Anyone got any ideas?

[FN-GM]

Are you connection via a RDP gateway? Or directly to the machines? (hopefully the first)

[edutech4schools]

Yes a gateway. Has been working fine for years and still OK for Windows 7.

 

EDIT: And 1 windows 8 machine. Very odd.

Edited June 9, 2014 by edutech4schools

[snagrat]

Compare the rdp client versions. Any differences?

[FN-GM]

What version of RDP gateway are you using? Is the combination supported?

[Michael]

Self cert or paid cert?

[edutech4schools]

paid for cert. all settings and versions are the same.

 

I have just restored one laptop to factory image that came with the laptop, and although it looks like Sysprep has run (add region, name etc) it ended up with the same SID as the other laptops, so I ran Sysprep logged in and the system connects to the remote server.

 

So rebuilding from scratch and running sysprep before anything else looks like a winner.

 

Going to keep adding software / updates and keep checking the remote connection.

[edutech4schools]

Rebuilt laptop from scratch but same issue, although I have found why it is not working.

 

When I install windows 8 I am not able to get the 8.1 update without running the following command,

 

netsh

winhttp

import proxy source=ie

 

After running that command the 8.1 update installs.

 

What I have found is if I change proxy setting to direct connection and then run the above command I can then remotely connect to the schools server from home.

 

I was told to do the above command on the Edugeek forums but not really sure what it does etc.

 

Should I be doing the above command to get 8.1 update installed? or should I be doing something else?

 

Am I OK putting this back to direct connection?

 

Why does it seem that Windows 8 has a hidden proxy section?

 

Any advice about this would be very helpful.

[Michael]

Metro is not proxy aware by default. The above command imports the proxy settings from Desktop mode and is perfectly safe to leave like this (if required).

[edutech4schools]

Seems odd to me that the RDP file is using the metro proxy settings.

 

Seems even stranger that MS would build a system that does not take it's settings from another part of it's own system.