Windows Server 2008 to Workstation Ultimate Guide Windows Server 2008 to Workstation

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Windows Server 2008 to Workstation Ultimate Guide
Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to
power the next-generation of networks, applications, and Web services. With Windows Server 2008
you can develop, deliver, and manage rich user experiences and applications, provide a highly
secure network infrastructure, and increase technological efficiency and value within your
organization.

Windows Server 2008 builds on the success and strengths of its Windows Server predecessors
while delivering valuable new functionality and powerful improvements to the base operating
system. New Web tools, virtualization technologies, security enhancements, and management
utilities help save time, reduce costs, and provide a solid foundation for your information
technology (IT) infrastructure.

The purpose of creating this guide is to make it short, simple, and to the point! This is the only
guide you will find on the Internet that has gone into so much depth. The sections above do not
have to be taken in any particular order, but for the full Workstation experience it's recommended
you do it step-by-step!

I won't go into too much detail here, besides who loves reading too much? Not many people I bet,
so I will go straight to the point in these sections, allowing a quick and easy configuration of your
Server to convert it to act like a Workstation!

Let's move on to the sections where we will be installing and tweaking Windows Server 2008!
Windows Server 2008 Installation

I'm sure you'll know how to install Windows Server 2008, its basically done the same way as Windows Vista. Let's
move on!

Boot up your Windows Server 2008 from DVD.

On the next screen just click Install Now button.

Select your version of Windows Server 2008
(Full Installation) and click Next.

Select I accept the license terms and click Next.

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Windows Server 2008 Installation

Choose the option Custom (advanced).

Select the harddisk and partition where you want
to install Windows Server 2008 and click Next.

Windows Server 2008 now installing.

After installation was finished your computer will restart and you will be prompted to change your
password. Changing your password is very important step. Now let's move on to the next section.

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Disabling Internet Explorer Enhanced Security & Drivers

You MUST type in a strong password with at
least one capital letter and one number, for
example Go4msfn, otherwise you will get an
error message saying that you doesn’t comply to
the security enforcements of the domain. You
can disable this strong password enforcement
later.

After succesfully changing the password you
will see the message that your password has
succesfully been changed.

Click OK. Your desktop will now show up.

The first thing you should do is disable the Server
Manager window, you don't want it nagging you
everytime you boot up Windows. Do you?

Now let's move on to the next section, where you will create a new user account.

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Disabling Internet Explorer Enhanced Security & Drivers

The Welcome Screen is non-existant in Windows Server 2008, so you weren't prompted to make a
new user name upon first boot-up. But worry not, its fairly simple to do, as everything in this guide
is!

Go to Start -> Run -> and type in control
userpasswords2 and press enter. The User
Accounts window will appear.

Click on Add and then fill in the necessary
fields with your User name, Full name, and
Description.

Click on Next and fill in both password
fields and then click on Next.

On the next wizard box choose Other and
select Administrators, lastly click on Finish!

If you wish for a more advanced configuration,
you can always use lusrmgr.msc by running it
from the Run box again.

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Disabling Internet Explorer Enhanced Security & Drivers

Now that we've set up a personal user account,
we want it to autologon. If you don't wish for
this feature please skip this step.

Make sure your name is highlighted in the
User Accounts window, as shown in the
screenshot to the right, and then uncheck the
box Users must enter a user name and
password to use this computer and then click
on Apply.

If you did it right, you will get another window
asking for the password to use for autologon on
your account name. Fill in both password fields,
and you're ready to go!

Now log off and log in with your new account!

If you want to disable the CTRL-ALT-DEL prompt, please go to this page

Let's move on to the next section - Computer Owner Information Configuration!

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Disabling Internet Explorer Enhanced Security & Drivers

Windows Server 2008 is by default installed with windows user as a computer owner. To change
your computer owner information you will need to do following:

Click Start -> Run and type regedit. Click
OK.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -
> SOFTWARE -> Microsoft -> Windows
NT -> CurrentVersion. Double click on
RegisteredOrganization and
RegisteredOwner. Enter your informations
in Value data field.

To check if everythig is fine click Start -> Run
and type winver. About Windows will apear
with new owner informations.

Drivers
1. Try installing the latest drivers developed for Vista and you'll be surprised how many drivers
works on Windows Server 2008.

2. If you are installing Windows Server 2008 in VMware you will have to use older version of the
Creative Sounblaster PCI 128 driver. Because VMware use a generic Creative PCI adapter. You can
download driver here. (Thanks to DonDamm)

Let's move on to the next section!

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Disabling Internet Explorer Enhanced Security & Drivers

Unable to browse sites? This section is for you.

A new security feature of Windows Server 2008 has set Internet Explorer to high security by
default, so you won't be able to browse any sites. Want to fix this? Read on!

IE Enhanced Security Configuration has been moved from Add Remove Windows Components (on
Windows 2003) to the Server Manager on Windows Server 2008.

Internet Explorer Enhanched Security
Configuration reduces the exposure of your
server to potential attacks from web based
content.

To remove Internet Explorer's Enhanced
Security Configuration, we will need to do this
via Server Manager.

Go to Security Informations -> Configure IE
ESC.

You now have a choice to disable it only for
Administrators. Click OK and OK!

Now fire up Internet Explorer and you'll be
faced with the page as shown in the screenshot
to the right, warning you that IE's Enhanced
Security Configuration is not enabled. Simply
change your homepage in Internet Explorer's
options, and that's it, you won't be seeing it
again!

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Enabling Wireless Network on Windows Server 2008

Click Start -> Administrative Tools -> Server
Manager.

Scroll down on the right until you find Add
Features. Click on Add Features and new
window will appear.

Scroll down to the bottom and find Wireless
LAN Service. Check it and click Next.

Click on Install. After installation is finished
you will need to restart your computer. Wireless
Networking will be installed on your computer.

Let's move on to the next section where you will learn how to install Java on Windows Server
2008.

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Install Sun Java VM

Windows Server 2008 ships without Microsoft Java VM, and Microsoft no longer hosts the
necessary Java VM files. There are plenty of other places where you can obtain the MS Java VM,
but I have not chosen to install it because:

1. It will no longer be updated to patch any forthcoming security exploits.
2. Many of the various download locations for MS Java VM differ in size, how would you
know exactly which one to get?

If you do want the MS Java VM: http://www.filemirrors.com/search.src?file=msjavx86.exe,
download and install it, and then proceed onto the next section - Disabling the Shutdown Event
Tracker.

Decided to get Sun's Java? Read on...

Grab a copy of Sun's Java VM from Sun's download page: http://java.sun.com/getjava/manual.html

The installation process is easy, and it won't require a reboot either. Now lets move on to disabling
the Shutdown Event Tracker, allowing us to reboot without the bloody nuisance of an event tracker
window!

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Disabling the Shutdown Event Tracker

Because Windows Server 2008 is a 'Server', the event tracker plays a crucial role so that it can keep
logs on why the server was shutdown/rebooted. Since we want it to be a Workstation, we will easily
attempt to disable this feature. Again, its so damn simple :-)

We will need to go into Group Policy
Object Editor, go to Start -> Run ->
and type gpedit.msc followed by enter.

You should see the Group Policy Editor as
shown on the left. Browse to Computer
Configuration -> Administrative Templates
-> System -> now look in the right window
pane and double click on Display Shutdown
Event Tracker.

This window will now appear, simply select
Disabled and then proceed to click on OK.
Now close the Group Policy Object Editor
window. Shutdown Event Tracker is now
disabled.

Now that you have IE ready for Internet browsing, and disabled the Shutdown Event Tracker, now's a good time to start
downloading and installing all those drivers!

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Enabling Sound Acceleration

For audio you need to enable the Windows Audio service. You do this by setting the startup type to
Automatic. Let's do it!

Important: If you are installing Windows Server 2008 in VMware you will have to use older
version of the Creative Sounblaster PCI 128 driver. Because VMware use a generic Creative PCI
adapter. You can download driver here. (Thanks to DonDamm)

Go to Start -> Run -> and type Services.msc
followed by enter.

The Services window will appear, scroll down
until you find "Windows Audio". Double click
on Windows Audio.

Change the startup type to Automatic -> then
Apply -> Start -> OK

Great! We have sound enabled, now go and grab a copy of Winamp and play some music to soothe
yourself!

What's next? Desktop Experience Feature on Windows Server 2008! Let's move on to the next
section!

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How to enable Desktop Experience Feature

The Desktop Experience feature is a new feature in the Windows Server 2008. The Desktop
Experience includes most of applications and features that are provided in the Windows Vista. If
you use Windows Server 2008 as your primary operating system you might want to have some of
these Windows Vista features available for your daily use.

You will have to enable it from the Server Manager. The "Turn Windows features on or off" /
"Add remove windows components" has all been rolled into the Server Manager now.

The Desktop Experience feature includes the following Windows Vista components and features:

1. Windows Calendar
2. Windows Mail
3. Windows Media Player
4. Windows Aero and other desktop themes
5. Video for Windows (AVI support)
6. Windows Photo Gallery
7. Windows SideShow
8. Windows Defender
9. Disk Cleanup
10. Sync Center
11. Sound Recorder
12. Character Map

Go to Start -> Administrative Tools ->
Server Manager.

Server Manager window will appear. Scroll
down until you see Features Summary -> Add
Features. Click on Add Features.

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How to enable Desktop Experience Feature

Add Features wizard windows will appear.
Find Desktop Experience and check it. Click on
Next.

Click on Install to confirm Desktop Experience
Features Installation.

Desktop Experience Feature has been installed.
Restart your computer to finish the installation
process.

Let's move on to next section where you can find information how to enable Aero Theme on
Windows Server 2008!

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Enabling Themes on Windows Server 2008

Where is the Aero Theme I hear you scream! You've come to the right place. Let's get them enabled
with little effort! To enable Themes you will basically have to enable the Themes Service. Again
being a server OS it is not enabled by default.

We will need to go back into Services to enable the
Themes Services. Go to Start -> Run -> and type
Services.msc followed by enter. ->

Scroll down until you find "Themes", now
double click on Themes.

Change the startup type to
Automatic -> Apply ->
Start -> OK. Now close
the Services window.

Let's look into what other Services you should enable, move on to the next section!

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Enabling Windows Search Service

In this section we will show you how to enable Windows Search.

To enable Windows Search go to Start ->
Administrative Tools -> Server Manager.

Once in Server Manager click on Add
Roles on the right.

Check - Skip this page in future - and click
Next.

Check File Service and click Next and Next.

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Enabling Windows Search Service

Check Windows Search Service and click Next.

Select partition and click Next and Install. You
are done!

Next, we will show you the Advanced Configuration setup in Windows Server 2008, click on as
usual!

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Advanced Configuration

In this section, we will go deep into the core of Windows Server 2008, where the memory and
processor usage is handled. We will want to change some settings as it isn't currently optimized for
Workstation usage.

Let's go into Performance Options and change
the performance settings for processor and
memory resources. Here's how to get there:

Go to Control Panel and click on System icon.

Click on Advanced System Settings. System
Properties windows will appear. Click on
Performance -> Settings.

Performance Option window will appear. Click
on Advanced tab. Change Processor scheduling
to Programs. Now click on OK.

Coming up next is the installation of Superfetch on Windows Server 2008!

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How to enable Superfetch on Windows Server 2008

As a workstation, enabling SupertFetch will give you that additional bit of responsiveness. The
SuperFetch services is disabled by default on Windows Server 2008 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. Let's move on!

Click Start -> Run and type regedit. Click
OK.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
-> System -> CurrentControlSet ->
Control -> Session Manager -> Memory
Management -> PrefetchParameters.

Right click on the right side of the window:
New -> DWORD (32bit) Value. Type:
EnablePrefetcher. Click OK. Repeat that
with another edit: EnableSuperfetch. Now
you have two new registry entries.

Double click on EnablePrefetcher and type 3
in Value data field. Click OK. Double click on
EnableSuperfech and enter 3 in Value data
field. Click OK. Close Registry Editor. Almost
there!

Now we have to enable SuperFetch Service to
start automaticaly. Click Start -> and type
services.msc. Click OK.

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How to enable Superfetch on Windows Server 2008

In the Services windows scroll down until you
see SuperFetch. Double click on it. New
windows will appear.

Change Startup type from Disabled to
Automaticaly. Click Apply -> Start. Click
OK. Close Service window.

Next time you Windows Server 2008 start, SuperFetch will run to optimize your system. Let's move
on to next section!

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Disabling the CTRL+ALT+DEL Prompt

You've managed to avoid the annoying CTRL+ALT+DEL prompt by using autologon... but it's still
there! The CTRL+ALT+DEL prompt will still show up when you lock your PC (Winkey +L) or
when you use a password protected screensaver. In here, we'll show you how to disable it
completely.

Go to Control Panel -> Administrative
Tools -> Local Security Policy.

Double click on Local Security Policy. Browse
to Local Policies -> Security Options.

On the right windows pane, scroll down
until you find Interactive logon: Do not
require CTRL+ALT+DEL, double click
and then select Enabled (as shown in the
screenshot). Click OK. That's it.

That's it! You have successfully configured your Server to act as a Workstation, now you can resume all your usual
day-to-day computer activities on Windows Server 2008! :-)

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Other Services

In this section we will show you how to:

1. Disable Strong Passwords Enforcement
2. Enable Windows Image Acquisition (for Webcams, Scanners etc)
3. Enable Visual Effects in Documents / Music / Video folders

Enable Windows Image Acquisition (for Webcams, Scanners etc)

If you have a Camera, Webcam or Scanner,
follow these instructions:

Go to Start -> Run -> and type in Services.msc
and scroll down until you find the "Windows
Image Acquisition (WIA) ", double click on
Windows Image Acquisition (WIA) and select
startup type Automatic -> Apply -> Start ->
OK.

Now install the drivers for your Camera, Webcam, or Scanner!

Enable Visual Effects in Documents / Music / Video folders
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 manually.

Go to: Control Panel -> System ->
Advanced System Settings ->
Advanced -> Performance -> Settings
-> Visual Effects. Check Show
thumbnails instead of icons. Click OK
and OK.

Next, we will show you some of the tweaks you can use in Windows Server 2008, click on as
usual!

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Tweaks for Windows Server2008

Add Computer Management to right click menu (My) Computer http://win2k8.msfn.org/files/tweaks/CompMgmt.reg
Enable SuperFetch http://win2k8.msfn.org/files/tweaks/SuperFetch.reg
Fix potential audio problems, Audio not tuned for server by default http://www.msfn.org/board/Fix-potential-audio-problems-
t115014.html

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Shared by: Jun Wang

Jun Wang

Prof.

China Agricultural ...

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