Not all the time, but sometimes, a machine you need to get into will not have RDP enabled, even with a group policy setting. Here's how to do it silently:
XP: Open regedit, go to open network registry, enter machine name Go to, HKLM->System->Current Control Set->Control->Terminal Server
Find the key fDenyTSConnections Change it from 1 to 0
Profit!
Vista/7
Open MMC, then computer management. Right click on Computer Management in the left pane and select Connect to another Computer. Enter machine name.
Open services on the remote machine and start the remote registry service.
Open regedit, go to open network registry, enter machine name Go to, HKLM->System->Current Control Set->Control->Terminal Server
Find the key fDenyTSConnections Change it from 1 to 0
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