Missing GPU due to running remote desktop under Windows 11

Message boards : Questions and problems : Missing GPU due to running remote desktop under Windows 11
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wlathan

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Joined: 20 Jul 23
Posts: 9
Message 112462 - Posted: 6 Aug 2023, 13:16:11 UTC

I am running BOINC 7.22.2. Got a new computer and thought I would observe running this machine via remote desktop on my new machine. However, when I do this, all tasks needing a GPU on this machine are marked as "missing GPU." This includes tasks from Asteroids, Einstein, and PrimeGrid, I don't understand why this is happening. This machine has two NVIDIA graphics cards plus one Intel graphics capability from the Intel CPU. I can understand that one of these GPUs could be utilized by the remote desktop connection, but why all three? Am I missing something? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bill
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Richard Haselgrove
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Message 112463 - Posted: 6 Aug 2023, 13:50:30 UTC - in response to Message 112462.  

This problem has been with us ever since Windows Vista and Windows 7 - it ain't going to go away.

It's to do with a fundamental security decision by Microsoft, concerning the way which video drivers interact with the rest of the operating system. In particular, the Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol disables the 3rd-party NVidia video drivers, and replaces them with Microsoft's own internal, more limited, versions.

Various 3rd party remote control systems are available which don't suffer from this restriction - tightVNC is one I remember from early experiments.
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wlathan

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Message 112464 - Posted: 6 Aug 2023, 13:53:33 UTC - in response to Message 112463.  

Thanks for your reply. Does this mean that when I set up the machine for remote desktop, Microsoft replaced the existing NVIDIA drivers? If so, I guess I'll need to reinstall them.

Thanks again,

Bill
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Profile Jord
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Message 112465 - Posted: 6 Aug 2023, 14:30:17 UTC - in response to Message 112464.  
Last modified: 6 Aug 2023, 14:30:32 UTC

No need to reinstall anything.
When you use remote desktop, you use Microsoft's own drivers via the remote desktop application. It doesn't affect your own drivers.
As soon as you drop out of the Remote Desktop app you return to using your own drivers, and BOINC will be able to use the GPU again.

A workaround is using a third party app, like RealVNC or TeamViewer. These use the user's drivers.
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Message boards : Questions and problems : Missing GPU due to running remote desktop under Windows 11

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