....and if you change the CursorBlinkRate string in the HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\UserOverride\Control Panel\Desktop, which used to be the overriding control for this, it has not effect. In addition, adding the appropriate CursorBlinkRate string to the HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Control Panel\Desktop produces a buffer overflow condition and has no effect. -----Original Message----- From: Shonk, Joe - Perot [mailto:JShonk@xxxxxxx]=20 Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 9:56 AM To: 'thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx' Subject: [THIN] Re: Cursor blink rate in Windows 2003... It looks like its using the HKCU\Remote\{session id}\Control Panel\Desktop key (which can't be modified) instead of the HKCU\Control Panel\Desktop key. Plus the settings under "Remote\{session id}" looks to be hard-coded somewhere other than the registry. What gives? Joe -----Original Message----- From: Claudio Rodrigues [mailto:crodrigues@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2004 8:11 AM To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [THIN] Re: Cursor blink rate in Windows 2003... I will send the TS developers in Redmond an email today. -----Original Message----- From: Brian Madden [mailto:brian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]=3D20 Sent: March 10, 2004 6:42 PM To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [THIN] Re: Cursor blink rate in Windows 2003... Ron, Claudio, and I will all be attending the MVP Conference in Redmond in about three weeks. We'll be sure to ask the developers then. Hopefully that's not too long of a wait! Brian Brian Madden brian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx +1.202.302.3657 Visit www.brianmadden.com for in-depth Citrix, Terminal Server, and server-based computing news and analysis, white papers, downloadable videos, and product reviews. -----Original Message----- From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeff Durbin Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2004 6:36 PM To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [THIN] Re: Cursor blink rate in Windows 2003... Man, that's lame. Thanks Microsoft!=3D20 > -----Original Message----- > From: thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx=3D20 = [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] >On Behalf Of Sjolund, Dag > Sent: Wednesday, 10 March 2004 4:57 p.m. > To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [THIN] Cursor blink rate in Windows 2003... >=3D20 >=3D20 > List Subscribers, >=3D20 > In preparing for an upgrade of a Windows 2000 Server-based=3D20 =20 >terminal services farm to Windows 2003 Server, I have run=3D20 into an = >issue with the cursor blink functionality on the=3D20 Windows 2003=20 >Server platform. After talking with Microsoft=3D20 Support, cursor=20 >blinking functionality is programmatically=3D20 disabled by design on=20 >the Windows 2003 Server platform for=3D20 RDP sessions. This was not=20 >the case on Windows 2000 and NT=3D20 4.0 based platforms. Microsoft's = >reasoning for this design=3D20 is likely anchored in the historically=20 >well known issue of=3D20 bandwidth implications relating to a blinking = >cursor, coupled=3D20 with the desire to make RDP protocol as "thin" as = >possible by=3D20 default. Even though the cursor blink issue only=20 >had=3D20 bandwidth implications in certain environments, the = global=3D20 > disabling of this "feature" has ramifications in environments=3D20 > where available bandwidth is a non-issue. Does anyone have=3D20 > any connections with the right people at Microsoft to get=3D20 > something like this addressed? I have an active case with MS=3D20 > Support on this issue, though it is currently in a "We=3D20 > can't/won't change this functionality" > stage. The support rep is trying to address the issue=3D20 > through proper MS Support channels, but I figured I would try=3D20 > to assist him with some help from this distinguished forum. =3D20 > The cursor blink rate issue is a big one as it relates to=3D20 > window/field navigation, especially for visually impaired=3D20 > users, and though a minor detail configuration wise, is a=3D20 > show stopper for the overall solution. Someone with the=3D20 > right connections please respond.....please.... Did I say=3D20 > please? I'll attach an e-mail that I sent to MS Support for=3D20 > those who are really interested. For those who are not,=3D20 > sorry for temporarily taking up ~25K in your inbox. >=3D20 > Dag Sjolund, MCSE, CCNA, CCA, CISSP > Senior Systems Engineer > Best Western International, Inc. >=3D20 > ______________________________________________________________ > __________ > _ >=3D20 > [MS Support Rep], >=3D20 > The issue that we are experiencing with the CursorBlinkRate=3D20 > feature on Windows 2003 Server may have adverse implications=3D20 > on proceeding further with Windows 2003 Server-based Terminal=3D20 > Services implementations in our environment. Best Western=3D20 > International, Inc., THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL CHAIN(r),=3D20 > currently utilize a multi-server, multi-farm Windows 2000=3D20 > Advanced Server Terminal Services solution to provide call=3D20 > center functionality for all Central Reservation Centers worldwide. > =3D3D20 > Though potentially viewed as a minor detail in the overall=3D20 > solution, one of the vital requirements of this solution is=3D20 > for the call center agents to at all times be able to=3D20 > identify where in their call center applications they have=3D20 > navigated. This is especially true for agents that are=3D20 > visually impaired and/or have other physical challenges=3D20 > relating to mouse movements and keyboard operation. With the=3D20 > Windows 2000 Server platform this was a non-issue, as the=3D20 > cursor blink rate was a functional and adjustable setting,=3D20 > that could be tailored to the target Terminal Services environment. > =3D3D20 > This brings us to the issue at hand: In Windows 2003, the=3D20 > cursor blink functionality has been globally disabled for the=3D20 > purpose of optimizing bandwidth usage of the RDP protocol and=3D20 > Terminal Services. As one can surmise, this means that even=3D20 > in scenarios were available bandwidth is not an issue, this=3D20 > feature cannot be enabled. In Best Western International's=3D20 > Terminal Services environment, cursor blinking has by design=3D20 > been enabled since the release of Windows NT 4.0 Terminal=3D20 > Server Edition, and is currently enabled in the Windows 2000=3D20 > Server-based implementation. The Terminal Services=3D20 > environment spans multiple LAN/WAN architectures, including=3D20 > Dial-up modem connectivity, DSL/ADSL, Frame Relay circuits,=3D20 > T1/T3, and 100/1000Mb LAN segments. The individual servers=3D20 > routinely handle 250+ concurrent Terminal Services sessions=3D20 > without performance issues. At no point have we experienced=3D20 > issues relating to bandwidth usage as a result of the cursor=3D20 > blink feature. > =3D3D20 > In summary, and judging from the numerous responses received=3D20 > from posts on newsgroups and other support forums on this=3D20 > topic, this issue is one that impacts decisions regarding the=3D20 > feasibility of Windows 2003 as a Terminal Services solution. =3D20 > The suggested behavior for the cursor blink feature would=3D20 > mirror the functionality on the Windows 2000 Server platform,=3D20 > but with one small adjustment: The cursor blink feature is=3D20 > enabled and adjustable, but the default behavior should be=3D20 > set to "no blinking" (-1). > =3D3D20 > Please investigate if would be possible to submit this case=3D20 > as a justification for a patch or revision of the associated=3D20 > code. Below are details of the issue experienced. Let me=3D20 > know if you have any questions or concerns. > =3D3D20 > Thanks, > =3D3D20 > Dag Sjolund, MCSE, CCNA, CCA, CISSP > Senior Systems Engineer > Best Western International, Inc. - THE WORLD'S LARGEST HOTEL=3D20 > CHAIN(r) =3D3D20 >=3D20 > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------- > -------- >=3D20 > =3D3D20 > Summary of issue at hand: >=3D20 > Platform: Windows 2003 Server Enterprise Edition with all=3D20 > updates, upgraded in place from Windows 2000 Advanced Server=3D20 > SP3. Running native Terminal Services (RDP 5.2). >=3D20 > Symptoms: User profiles retained the pre-upgrade=3D20 > CursorBlinkRate settings, but cursor is not blinking at all. =3D20 > The users are able to change the Cursor blink rate setting=3D20 > Control Panel's Keyboard applet properties, but it has no=3D20 > actual effect on the blink rate. Cursor blinking and the=3D20 > functional adjustment of this value seems to be globally=3D20 > disabled. There are no "override" string values in the=3D20 > HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal > Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\UserOverride\Control Panel\Desktop key. > Adding a "CursorBlinkRate" string value with a desired=3D20 > millisecond value in this key has no effect. >=3D20 > =3D3D20 >=3D20 > ******************************************************** > This weeks sponsor triCerat Inc. > triCerat makes your job easier by offering essential=3D20 > applications to eliminate your printing, policy and profile,=3D20 > and your application management problems. > http://www.triCerat.com > ********************************************************** > Useful Thin Client Computing Links are available at: > http://thin.net/links.cfm > *********************************************************** > For Archives, to Unsubscribe, Subscribe or set Digest or=3D20 > Vacation mode use the below link: > http://thin.net/citrixlist.cfm >=3D20 ******************************************************** This weeks sponsor Emergent Online. Emergent OnLine is the leading server-based computing consulting integration firm in the nation. Emergent OnLine delivers expert=3D20 consulting services you can depend on. http://www.go-eol.com ********************************************************** Useful Thin Client Computing Links are available at: http://thin.net/links.cfm *********************************************************** For Archives, to Unsubscribe, Subscribe or=3D20 set Digest or Vacation mode use the below link: http://thin.net/citrixlist.cfm ******************************************************** This weeks sponsor Emergent Online. Emergent OnLine is the leading server-based computing consulting integration firm in the nation. Emergent OnLine delivers expert=3D20 consulting services you can depend on. http://www.go-eol.com ********************************************************** Useful Thin Client Computing Links are available at: http://thin.net/links.cfm *********************************************************** For Archives, to Unsubscribe, Subscribe or=3D20 set Digest or Vacation mode use the below link: http://thin.net/citrixlist.cfm ******************************************************** This weeks sponsor Emergent Online. Emergent OnLine is the leading server-based computing consulting integration firm in the nation. Emergent OnLine delivers expert=20 consulting services you can depend on. http://www.go-eol.com ********************************************************** Useful Thin Client Computing Links are available at: http://thin.net/links.cfm *********************************************************** For Archives, to Unsubscribe, Subscribe or=20 set Digest or Vacation mode use the below link: http://thin.net/citrixlist.cfm ******************************************************** This weeks sponsor Emergent Online. Emergent OnLine is the leading server-based computing consulting integration firm in the nation. Emergent OnLine delivers expert=20 consulting services you can depend on. http://www.go-eol.com ********************************************************** Useful Thin Client Computing Links are available at: http://thin.net/links.cfm *********************************************************** For Archives, to Unsubscribe, Subscribe or=20 set Digest or Vacation mode use the below link: http://thin.net/citrixlist.cfm ******************************************************** This weeks sponsor Emergent Online. Emergent OnLine is the leading server-based computing consulting integration firm in the nation. Emergent OnLine delivers expert consulting services you can depend on. http://www.go-eol.com ********************************************************** Useful Thin Client Computing Links are available at: http://thin.net/links.cfm *********************************************************** For Archives, to Unsubscribe, Subscribe or set Digest or Vacation mode use the below link: http://thin.net/citrixlist.cfm