RDP8 + Ribbons + RemoteApp = Known Issue

If you have Windows 7 SP1 and install the Remote Desktop Protocol 8.0 update (KB2592687) then you may find you encounter an issue with “ribbon” applications running as RemoteApps.

 

The scenario is this:

A user on a Windows 7 SP1 + KB25292687 launches Wordpad as a RemoteApp on a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 RD Session Host server, the application launches as expected.

The user hits the Alt key (not Alt Gr) which displays the tooltips with the shortcut keys over the clickable items on the ribbon - in this example, F for File, H for Home, V for View and Y for Help.

Pressing the F key or clicking on the relevant hotspot makes the File menu flash up but then disappear again immediately (the other 3 items are unaffected, through both keyboard and mouse).

 

The workaround is to press the Shift, Ctrl and Alt keys simultaneously to reset the state of the modifier keys.

The only solution at present (until the hotfix completes it test cycle and is released) is to roll back to RDP 7.0 – there is a hotfix in the works, but it is currently undergoing testing.

Only certain functions of “ribbon” apps appear to be affected, the majority being Office applications.