Cannot Connect via RDP to Azure VM ... Just wait!

This is a post for those having issues with RDP into an Azure VM:

1. On a VM I created locally, I opened port 3389 publicly and privately, then uploaded the VM to my Azure storage account (12 hour process).
2. In Azure, I created a VHD successfully
3. I created a new virtual machine using that VHD
4. But I could not RDP into my VHD, so I read all the posts.
5. I changed the size of the Azure VM, changed the endpoint ports, restarted, deleted the VM and started over again in Azure from the VHD. I got pretty frustrated and unsure what to do.
6. The answer turned out to be so simple, I was in disbelief
7. AFTER EACH CHANGE I NEEDED TO WAIT AT LEAST 5 MINUTES FOR THE VIRTUAL MACHINE TO BE AVAILABLE.
8. THE LESSON: Just because the CONNECT button is enabled at the bottom of the VM Management Portal in Azure it doesn't mean your VM is available. BE PATIENT, BREATHE, WAIT, then try to RDP into the Azure VM. It worked for me!

Clyde Ford