Tuesday, August 27, 2013

How to Install the Desktop Experience on Windows Server 2012


There are two options when installing Window Server 2012: Server Core Installation and Server with a GUI. If you’re running a Server with a GUI installation, you might find a few things missing compared to the typical Windows client. Things like Media Player, desktop themes, Snipping Tool (I use this a lot), and more are not installed by default with Windows Server 2012. You’ll need to install the Desktop Experience feature to use those things.

Open Server Manger by clicking on the Server Manager icon on the task bar


On the Welcome Tile, under Quick Start, click on Add roles and features to start the Add Roles and Features Wizard. If there's no Welcome Tile, it might be hidden. Click View on the menu bar and click Show Welcome Tile.


Read the stuff on the wizard's welcome page and click Next.


Select Role-based or feature-based installation and click Next.


Select Select a server from the server pool and select a server on which you want to install the Desktop Experience. Click Next.


We're not adding a role at this time. Click Next.


Scroll down and expand User Interfaces and Infrastructure (Installed). Select Desktop Experience and click Next.


Confirm what's being installed and click Next.


Go get a sandwich while the Desktop Experience is being installed.


Close the Add Roles and Features Wizard, restart the server, and you should have access to all of the Desktop Experiance goodness



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