Not really a question but over the past 24hours had issues with Remote Desktop Connections locally and externally to a Windows Server 2012 R2.
Went through so many forums and nothing suggested the simple idea of uninstalling remote desktop services from the Server and then attempt to connect again locally.
If you rename a server AFTER you have installed remote desktop services on the server - then the connection will fail without errors. It will get to the 'Establishing remote desktop' part and then disconnected.
What you have to do is - uninstall the remote desktop services and then test RDP again. If it works then install the RD services via add/remove roles and then continue installing CALS if you have any.
Simple as that!