I use Remote Desktop a LOT. So I thought I'd share a few tips and tricks I use often about RDP.

1. Create a new text file, call it “My Connection.RDP” (Note it's not .txt), right click -> Edit, and in there you will see a whole bevy of options. A few favorite ones I use regularly are -
   a) Save password, this way I can put many of these in my quicklaunch under a submenu, and simply click'n'connect'n'work.
   b) Change display to 32bit depth (seriously, broadband guys)
   c) Change the Experience settings - check everything BUT wallpaper. Wallpaper is such a drag IMHO on remote desktopping.
   d) There is a neat option to use local drives/printers etc. as drives on the remote PC - very nifty. Though, drives are hella slow - network mapped drives work better, unless of course you can't map drives, (say on the internet). ;-)

2. If you have a laptop, under the “Remote Computer Sound”, change this option to “Leave at remote computer”. That way, I can use my pda/laptop as a remote control to my airtunes connected to my home theater system.

3. Remote Desktopping in XP connects you to the same session, whereas in 2003 it forces you to create a new connection, I find that really irritating since I could leave a job running at work that I might want to monitor from home. You can easily get around that my passing in the “/console” commandline parameter to the executable msrtc.exe. So the entire command would look like “%SystemRoot%\system32\mstsc.exe MyConn.RDP /Console”, this would connect you to an existing session if you are already logged in. This is incredibly useful, few scenarios -
   a) Start a process at work, go home, VPN, connect and see progress
   b) Working on something? Lock your PC, grab your laptop, go to starbucks, connect over WiFi, Terminal Service in and continue working as if nothing happened.
   c) .. etc.

4. Two command prompt thingies - "qwinsta" and "rwinsta". RDP on Win2k3 will let you in only twice (2 sessions). This lets you get around that problem.

5. Can't shut down or reboot the remote PC? Use "Shutdown" or TSSHUTDN on commandline.

6. Use RDP over the internet - but make sure you change the port (y'know hackers n stuff).

7. Get familiarized with the various key combinations on RDP.