How do I connect to the console with mstsc now I am using Vista?

The XP Way

Start > Run >  " mstsc /v:machine_name /console "

The Vista Way

Start > Run > " mstsc /v:machine_name /admin "

We recommend Dell servers to our clients. However for some bizarre reason they set the default wallpaper to their own high colour Dell wallpaper that is highly graded.

Unfortunately this has the side effect of making it very slow to access the server via RDP when connecting, as it has to transmit this wallpaper even when the "Wallpaper" option is switched off in the RDP client.

To fix this, this registry entry will remove the default Dell wallpaper. (just rename from .txt to .reg after reading it!) or use this command at the 'Run' command prompt

reg add "HKU\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop" /v "Wallpaper" /d "" /t REG_SZ /f

If you would like to change the RDP port number while you are at it:-

reg add "HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\Winstations\RDP-Tcp" /v "PortNumber" /d "3389" /t REG_DWORD /f