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Hacking Vista to allow concurrent sessions
Microsoft seems to have left out from Windows Vista the ability to log in to your PC without logging out another user. While this was something that was technically only supported on earlier Windows Server products, there was an easy hack that allowed you to replace a dll file in Windows XP.Okay, so why is this important? Well, if you want to access files on your computer, or install updates, or pretty much do anything while someone else is using your computer, tough. For example, say a family member's watching a movie using Vista's media center functionality in the living room, but you need access to the computer? You're pretty much out of luck.
On the other hand, if you could login from a remote computer without logging off the first user, one user could continue to use the media center while the other user performs tasks in the background.
Well, as tends to happen when Microsoft leaves a useful feature out of their operating systems, the user community finds a way to enable it. The fine folks at The Green Button are have found a way to enable concurrent sessions. Alan Cook at Missing Remote has written up a nice tutorial explaining how to install the hack.
Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsRob UsdinFeb 21st 2007 1:59PM
Am I missing something? Windows XP Home has fast user switching - which is concurrent sessions, right? I thought that you could turn that on in XP Pro as well.
Did they leave that out of Vista? If so, that's a big feature a lot of families use. The ability to leave both myself and my wife logged in at the same time is an essential in our house.
--*Rob
Brad LinderFeb 21st 2007 2:05PM
Rob, while Fast User Switching lets you switch between users without having to log off the computer, the ability to run concurrent sessions means two people can be using the keyboard at exactly the same time, with one user logged in remotely. In other words, your wife could watch a movie on the computer while you tinker in the background, and she never has to stop watching her video.
ToddFeb 21st 2007 2:16PM
The re-enabling feature's developer had his computer "stolen" or confiscated by Microsoft goons?
Why is Microsoft so hostile towards its users?
ZekeFeb 21st 2007 2:33PM
um... what are you guys smoking?
I just switched users in Vista. No hack needed.
Atanas BoevFeb 22nd 2007 4:48AM
...you're pretty much out of luck... ...you're pretty much out of luck... :)
Brad LinderFeb 21st 2007 3:54PM
Thanks Atanas... I knew that line looked familiar. I've updated the post so that I don't keep repeating myself repeating myself.
thecattFeb 21st 2007 5:00PM
It's not switching users. It's having two users use it concurrently. One at the keyboard, another via Remote Desktop.
Ben GarmisaFeb 21st 2007 11:24PM
If I'm not mistaken, they've already figured out this hack. And I know I'm not mistaken, because I'm using it right now.
http://www.missingremote.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1220&Itemid=1&mosmsg=Item+successfully+saved.
Brad LinderFeb 21st 2007 11:26PM
Thanks guys, I've updated the post to reflect the fact that the hack is working.
Stephen M?rFeb 27th 2007 2:49AM
Where can i get the original XP hack?