When connected to a computer using Remote Desktop, you will sometimes find that the screen goes black and, after a while, you will get a “reconnecting” message and then it will return to normal.  This can happen anytime but seems to be more common when your session is minimized or otherwise idle for a while. We have seen this with both server and workstation hosts, mostly Windows 8 and Server 2008, 2012.

UPDATE: The crossed-out steps below never permanently fixed this problem, which occurred when the hosting machine (the machine to which remote users were connecting) was using a Comcast Internet connection.  Instead, what did fix it was replacing the Comcast-supplied Netgear Cable modem with an ARRIS SURFboard SB6183 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem.  It is likely that any similar replacement modem will fix it.

Bitmap compression seems to be the culprit here.

On the RDP host:

1. GPEDIT.MSC

2. Navigate to:
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Remote Session Environment

3. Enable “Configure compression for RemoteFX data” and set RDP compression algorithm to “Balances memory and network bandwidth.”

4. Click OK to save this change.

Sometimes it will also help to turn off “Persistent bitmap caching” on the RDP client (Experience tab.)