Error “Remote Desktop Web Connection ActiveX Control Could Not Be Installed” After Installing Windows XP SP3

© Ramesh Srinivasan | Internet Explorer, Windows XP | 28th August 2008

When you start the Remote Desktop Web Connection window after installing Windows XP Service Pack 3, the following error may occur, and the Connect button remains grayed out:

Remote Desktop Web Connection ActiveX control could not be installed. A connection cannot be made without a working installed version of the control. Please contact the server administrator.

Microsoft RDP ActiveX Control is disabled when you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Windows Small Business Server 2003 SP1. Follow one of the following methods to enable the ActiveX control.

Method 1

Use the Manage Add-ons dialog in Internet Explorer to enable the Terminal Services ActiveX Control. For more information, refer to article You cannot connect to a remote computer when you use Terminal Services Web Access or Remote Web Workspace on a Windows XP SP3-based computer

If the ActiveX control is not listed in Manage Add-ons dialog, follow Method 2 below.

Method 2

1. Click Start, Run. Type Regedit.exe and press ENTER

2. Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Ext \ Settings

3. Double-click Settings to expand the branch

4. Right-click {7584c670-2274-4efb-b00b-d6aaba6d3850} and choose Delete

5. Click Yes when asked for confirmation.

Close all instances of Internet Explorer and re-run Remote Desktop Web Connection.

Registry Fix

To automate the above, download tsweb-enable.zip and save to Desktop. Extract the contents and run the file tsweb-enable.reg file. To reverse the changes, run tsweb-disable.reg.

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27 Comments

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  1. Vincent Peng
    said this on Sunday, August 15th 2010 9:23 pm

    It works.
    Thanks very much and appreciate!

  2. Jake57
    said this on Thursday, April 22nd 2010 8:56 am

    Adding the site to Trusted Sites for me. I’m using Internet Explorer 7, and have Service Pack 3. Tools –> Internet Options –> Security –> Trusted Sites –> Sites –> “Add this website to the zone” Thanks to Imran above.

  3. DosSantos
    said this on Wednesday, March 31st 2010 4:16 am

    Imran

    Thanks so much. Your solution worked for me. And I’ve tried all others that I could find.

    I really apreciated you taking the time to post it.

    Thanks again

  4. Imran
    said this on Monday, March 15th 2010 10:29 pm

    I finally got this working also, but with a different work around. I am running IE7 on XPSP3, so I am not sure if the work around is related to it, but here are the steps:

    I went into Internet Options > Security tab > Selected Internet > Custom Level > ActiveX Controls and plug-ins > Allow previously unused ActiveX controls to run without prompt – set to ENABLE.

    To be on the safe side, you can add the site to Trusted Sites and set the same option

  5. Vimto
    said this on Monday, March 15th 2010 8:19 pm

    Just so you know, method 2 worked for me first time, very useful article.

  6. Jairzinho
    said this on Wednesday, December 30th 2009 7:39 pm

    when gone to the registry setup, i couldn’t fine “Current version”
    Maybe this might help?: This PC was originally Vista Business, But I downgraded it to XP Pro SP3

  7. mikrobi
    said this on Monday, November 23rd 2009 4:39 am

    It doesn’t work for me.
    The user has limited privileges and the Active X controls cannot be activated.
    But when I log on with a user with more privileges (almost a domain admin) I don’t have a problem of any kind
    Help Please!

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