Cannot burn CDs over remote desktop

Question

While I can happily burn CDs using Media player on my Windows 10 Pro PC, I appear unable to do so when connected using Remote Desktop from another Windows 10 Pro PC.

In the Group Policy Editor, I have set Local Computer Policy, Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, System, and Removable Storage Access, All Removable Storage: Allow direct access in remote sessions to Enabled

This allows me to access the CD drive which I couldn't access without making this change, but I still cannot burn CDs. The blank disk is not recognised. But as soon as I go to a local session on that PC, all is fine.

What is the missing component here that will allow me to burn CDs using a remote session?

Answer 1

Hi,

As per my research, the local CD drive is seen as a shared drive by the remote machine, not as a CD drive. It is not possible for the remote machine to burn a CD on the local machine. The burning program must always run on the machine where the physical CD drive is installed.
So, you can only burn CDs in the local session.

If you would like to burn CDs in remote session. I think you can install the CD on the PC you have access to. Then you can use mstsc to remote connect to the PC you would like to connect and do the following settings.

1. Check Drivers and Other supported Plug and Play devices under Local devices and resources
   
2. On the remote PC, open local group policy and Disable Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Device and Resource Redirection\Do not allow supported Plug an Play device redirection

By above settings, the CD installed on the local computer can be redirected to the remote session. In this case, you do not need to burn CDs which are installed on the remote PC.

Hope the information can help you.

Thanks,
Eleven

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Answer 2

I think you might have misunderstood what I'm trying to do.

Let's use the terms "laptop" and "desktop PC".

My desktop PC has a writable CD/DVD drive, and my laptop doesn't. Because of the location of the desktop PC, it's rare that I sit at it, and I typically operate it using a remote desktop session from the laptop.

If I'm sitting at the desktop PC, I have no problem burning a CD on it. Everything works as expected.

However, when connected in using remote desktop on the laptop, Media Player on the desktop does not recognise blank CDs and will not permit burning.

I don't have the option to burn to my local CD drive, as I don't have one on the laptop. And I'm not convinced by your description of the remote CD drive as being shared. As the remote desktop session supercedes any local session on the desktop PC, surely it has exclusive access to the CD drive. And, surely, Group Policy "All Removable Storage: Allow direct access in remote sessions" is giving direct access - shouldn't this be enough?

I'd already looked at the local devices and resources part of Remote Desktop, but they're all about sharing my resources to the remote PC - which I'm not attempting to do here.

It may be that this is simply impossible. However, plenty of people have struggled with being able to access a remote desktop's CD drive in read mode until they discover the well hidden Group Policy "All Removable Storage: Allow direct access in remote sessions" setting.

What am I missing here...?