Install per-user MSI on RDS

Question

It seems that it's not possible for an RDS user to install a per-user MSI. Trying to install the Skype for Business plugin. We've tried other per-user MSI installs and they fail with error 1640 (ERROR_INSTALL_REMOTE_DISALLOWED). This is on Windows 2012R2 RDS. I've researched it extensively and cannot find any solutions or workarounds. Hoping there is one, otherwise how do organizations with RDS farms allow their users to join external Skype for Business meetings (for training, etc.).?

Answer 1

Hi,
Windows installer installation shall work if considered listed points mentioned in below link.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/msi/using-windows-installer-with-a-terminal-server

What make this case special is that the skype for business web plug-in might have additional requests when deploying on a remote server which you could consult the experts in Office 365 or Skype for business.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/topics/office-skype-business-server-deployment.html

Though I am not familiar with Skype for business, I still would like to share some reference links that might be helpful for you:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/188d327f-9279-4302-9574-71120f57d7cc/deploy-o365-skype-for-business-within-rds-server-farm?forum=sfbfr
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/skypeforbusiness/plan-your-deployment/clients-and-devices/vdi-environments?redirectedfrom=MSDN
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/trouble-installing-the-skype-for-business-web-app-plug-in-958fc5f1-2d6f-42e3-815d-a9516c591274

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Hope this helps and please help to accept as Answer if the response is useful.

Thanks,
Jenny

Answer 2

Hi,
The error code indicated that the current user is not permitted to perform installations from a client session of a server running the Terminal Server role service. Have you tested if administrator account could succeed?

Furthermore, below is a blog shared from non-MS of installing Skype for business on RDS.
https://davidvielmetter.com/tips/skype-for-business-2016-on-remote-desktop-server-2016/
Please note: Information posted in the given link is hosted by a third party. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy and effectiveness of information.

Hope this helps and please help to accept as Answer if the response is useful.

Thanks,
Jenny

Answer 3

I have tried with domain admin account and same error occurs. I have read that blog before but the information is not applicable, we are trying to use the web plug-in, not the desktop client. It would be useful to know if the problem is that installing per-user MSI in an RDS session is simply not allowed by Windows at all, or if it's not allowed by default but there is a policy to override that.

Thanks,
yk

Answer 4

Thanks, I've seen those references but they don't provide an answer to the web plugin issue. I did post a question on the Skype for Business forum you suggested.