Last week I've decided that enough it enough and I cannot stand Vista anymore and decided to downgrade to XP just before going through the downgrade I've received a notification from the Windows Server Beta that they finally made Windows Server 2008 RTM so I've decided to give it a try AND I LOVE IT !
The installation of Windows 2008 Server went much faster then i expected.
After the installation I've started modifying the base install and adapting the server for a high end workstation.
For anyone who might want to move like me here is my WIN2008Workstation list:
- Disable shutdown event tracker
Start->Run->"gpedit.msc" -> Administrative tools->System-> Display Shutdown event tracked -> Disable
- Disable IE Security
Start->Server Manager->Configure IE Sec->Off both options.
- Enable Wireless Support
Start->Server Manager->Features->Add Feature->Wireless LAN Services
- Enable Audio support
Start->Run->"Service.msc"->Windows Audio -> Automatic
Start->Run->Services.msc"->Windows Audio Endpoint Builder->Automatic - Install hardware drivers
I am using ThinkPad t60p so my driver list is here
Note that mobility center is missing from windows 2008 server so there is no need to install it.
IBM Network access connection will crash on you if you will not enable the wireless support (Look above) - Enable Vista Experience (look & feel including Aero, Media Player etc.)
Start->Server Manager->Features->Add Feature->Desktop Experience
More info including how to enable sleep support on windows 2008 server you may find over this kb: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947036) - Enable Themes
Start->Run->"Service.msc"->Themes->Automatic - Enable .NET 3.0
Start->Server Manager->Features->Add Feature->.NET Framework 3.0 Features - Enable Windows Search (for searching outlook emails)
Start->Server Manager->Roles->Add Roles->File Services->Windows Search - Enable SuperFetch
Start->Run->"regedit"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
Add a new DWORD by the name of EnablePrefetcher and assign is the value of 3
Add a new DWORD by the name of EnableSuperfetch and assign is the value of 3
Start->Run->"services.msc"->SuperFetch->Automatic - Install Messenger
Latest Live Messenger will not install on Windows 2008 Server, you should install a former version (8.1 and not 8.5) and then you may copy the Live Messenger folder from a working machine and work with it.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d78f2ff1-79ea-4066-8ba0-ddbed94864fc&DisplayLang=en - Install Skype
Latest Skype version will crash 2 seconds after login, you need to install a former skype version Skype 3.1.0.152 works great.
http://filehippo.com/download_skype/2473/ - Install Office 2007
- Install Visual Studio 2008
- Setting Processor Scheduling
Start->Control Panel ->System ->Advanced system settings-> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings->Advanced->Adjust best performance->Programs
update: - Changing DEP Mode
Start->Control Panel ->System ->Advanced system settings-> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings-> Data Execution Prevention-> Turn On DEP for essential Windows programs and services.
update2: - Fixing ASP.NET Development Server
After installing visual studio you might want to start working with Casini, the asp.net dev server but it seems that the ie cant find it.
Edit the hosts file located at: C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc
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If you are still not convinced why to use Windows Server 2008 as your workstation OS, read this article, and you will be installing Windows Server 2008 right after reading it!
News26-08-2008: Added article Fine-Tuning Services
17-07-2008: Added page for the Windows Server 2008 Workstation Converter at http://converter.win2008workstation.com/
15-06-2008: Added article Preview Thumbnails in Windows Explorer
14-06-2008: Updated article Game Controllers. Now you can use the Vista Game Controllers Controlpanel item in stead of the one from XP.
01-05-2008: Added article Game Controllers
Table of Contents1. Installation, Drivers, OS Language and Owner Information: Installation of Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and how to set owner name and -organization.
2. Wireless Networking: (If you don’t use wireless, skip this step) Enable wireless networking in Windows Server 2008.
3. New User, Auto Logon and Strong Passwords Enforcement: How to create a new user, how to configure a user to logon automatically and how to disable enforcement of a minimum complexity for passwords.
4. Shutdown Tracker: How to disable the annoying Shutdown Event Tracker.
5. Ctrl+Alt+Del: Disable ctrl+alt+del at Windows startup.
6. Audio and Startup Sound: Enable audio and Startup Sound in Windows Server 2008.
7. Computername: Change computername.
8. Performance: Increase performance of applications in windows server.
9. Internet Explorer Enhanced Security: Disable Enhanced Security in Internet Explorer.
10. Themes, SideBar with Custom Gadgets, Aero Cursors and Thumbnails: Enable the Vista Aero theme and 3d flip with Sidebar and preview thumbnails in Windows Explorer.
11. SuperFetch: Maintain and Improve your system performance.
12. Delay Activation: How to extend the evaluation period to 240 days.
More Features13. Windows Search: Install the Windows Search service to search your Outlook and documents.
14. Hyper-V: How to install the Hyper-V virtualization serverrole in Windows Server 2008 x64.
15. Offline Files: Installing the Offline Files feature to improve mobility!
Additional InformationForum: Place here all your questions, problems and solutions about configuring and using Windows Server 2008 as Workstation.
Security Software: Check what Antivirus and Firewall programs are compatible with Windows Server 2008.
Games and Entertainment: List of Gamesthat can (not) be played and articles about how to get them working.
Wish List: Features we want to have in Windows Server 2008, but aren’t working yet.
Fine-Tuning Services: Optimize performance by configuring the Windows Services.
Other Posts: Missing gameux.dll, Disabling DEP, Patching .msi installers, Game Controllers, Install GTA2, Win2008Workstation Converter.
Useful forum Topics: TV Tuner in Server 2008, Applications Compatibility (x86) (x64), Windows Live Applications, Skype, Windows Movie Maker.
If you enjoy this manual, please donate, so I can pay my bandwidth and domain name! Thanks in Advance!
So here is my tale of how I went about setting up Windows Server 2008 to look and fell like its desktop counterpart Windows Vista.
1. Enable Hardware Virtualization
My workstation is a x64 machine with hardware virtualization capabilities. This means I can run Hyper-V on my machine. Even if your machine's hardware supports virtualization it is most likely not going to be enabled by default. You have to enable it via your BIOS setup.
2. Install the latest Graphics and Audio drivers
Being a server OS Windows 2008 carries with it basic graphics and audio drivers. To utilize the full strength of your hardware ensure you install the latest drivers for both graphics and audio hardware. Only with the proper graphics drivers will you be able to enable the "Aero" experience on Windows 2008.
3. Desktop Experience Feature
The Desktop Experience Feature enables a bunch of stuff that is by default present on a desktop OS. Most importantly it includes Themes, Windows Media player and the Aero related features. You will have to enable it form the Server Manager. The "Turn Windows features on or off" / "Add remove windows components" has all been rolled into the Server Manager now.
Server Manager > Features > Desktop Experience
Installing the Desktop Experience feature does not enable them. You have to manually set them up.
4. Themes
To enable Themes you will basically have to enable the Themes Service. Again being a server OS it is not enabled by default.
Services.MSC > Themes
Set the start up type to Automatic
Enabling the Aero Theme.
For this go to Control Panel > Personalization >Theme and select Windows Aero
5. Search
Search is also disabled by default on Windows 2008. Searching is important for me as I use it a lot to find my emails. To enable search you will have to add the File Services Role via Server Manager.
Server Manager > Roles > File Services > Windows Search
Outlook relies on this search service.
6. Disable Shutdown Event Tracker
Since I am using it as a workstation I do not want to keep a track of all the Shutdowns. The Shutdown Event Tracker is the pop up that you get asking you for a shutdown reason. To disable it
Open mmc.msc
Add the Group Policy snap-in
Under Administrative Templates expand System
Set Display Shutdown Event Tracer to Disabled
7. Audio
For audio you need to enable the Windows Audio service. You do this by setting the startup type to Automatic.
Services.msc > Windows Audio
Ensure you have proper drivers for your audio hardware... for me the default driver was not enabling the headphones ... it started working fine after I got the proper driver.
8. SuperFetch
As a workstation, enabling SupertFetch will give you that additional bit of responsiveness. The SuperFetch services is disabled by default and when you try to enable it you will most likely get an error message "The operating system is not presently configured to run this application"
You will have to make two registry changes to enable this service. I basically copied them over from my Vista machine.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
EnablePrefetcher DWORD 3
EnableSuperfetch DWORD 3
9. Get a codec pack.
For media hungry buffs download a codec pack. This will ensure you can play all media files.
10. Enable Hyper-V
With Hyper-V you can run virtual machines on your workstation. This is useful if you want to run your tests on older OS versions. Enabling Hyper-V is easy
Server Manager > Roles > Hyper-V
Remember you need a Hyper-V enabled Windows 2008 licence and also your hardware has to support virtualization.
Also If you are using an existing VHD it may ask you to re-Activate Windows as it detected hardware changes.
One good thing about Windows Server 2008 is that it no longer asks for the i386 folder like Windows 2003 while you enable features.
11. Processor Scheduling
As pointed out in a comment on my previous post; On Windows Server 2008 background services are given preference over interactive programs. You can change this behavior by
Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Processor Scheduling
Setting this to Programs will make foreground programs more responsive.
12. Visual Effects
One thing you will notice on Windows Server 2008 is that by default you will not see Preview Thumbnails in your Documents / Music / Video folders. This has to be enabled explicitly.
Control Panel > System and Maintenance > System > Advanced System Settings > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Visual Effects
Based on your preference you can tweak these settings.
13. Power Options
Do your bit for a Green World! The Balanced (default) power plan on Windows Server 2008 does not turn off hard disks by default. On Vista hard disks are turned off after 20 mins. You can change this by
Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Change plan settings
It does take a bit to kick start the hard disks when you resume work but that's a sacrifice worth *** for a greener world :).
14. IE Enhanced Security
IE Enhanced Security Configuration has been moved from Add Remove Windows Components (on Windows 2003) to the Server Manager on Windows Server 2008.
Server Manager > Security Information > Configure IE ESC
You now have a choice to disable it only for Administrators.
And to end with a couple of clarifications
* Why am I recommending Windows Server 2008 over Windows Vista ?
I am not!
* How to get Sidebar / Media center on Windows Server 2008?
My honest opinion would be to look for alternatives.
* Will hardware problems go away moving to Windows Server 2008?
Not likely. One of the biggest complaints against Vista was hardware issues. Without proper drivers from your hardware vendors your ride on Windows Server 2008 is again going to be bumpy. For me all Vista compatible drivers worked fine with Server 2008 and I believe they should work for you as well.
* Will all software work on Windows Server 2008?
Most will but some setups detect Windows Server 2008 as a server OS and may not install. The compatibility mode does not have a Vista option only XP / Windows 2003 and other legacy OS.