Comments on: Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Tips

By: jerem

jerem — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 05:21:55 +0000

We can tell you’re not a Windows fan and definitely not one who considers the security aspect of your post or servers. Don’t disable sec features and most of what you did is more cumbersome than using the UI or using Server Manager. If you want a desktop computer, use Windows 8. And by the way… you can get to almost everything you would ever need from server manager. Try it for yourself.

By: Brant

Brant — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:53:44 +0000

You don’t need to enable the Desktop experience to enable the icons as you mentioned – simply search the Control Panel for “Recycle Bin” and the correct panel launcher will come up. Likewise for setting the background – search for desktop wallpaper and you can change that as well. Desktop Experience doesn’t enable those options, it just makes them more readily available.

By: Creating a Server 2012 Golden Image with Sysprep and VMWare Workstation « willcode4foodblog

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 01:24:21 +0000

[...] out or throw up this post by Jason Boche on another monitor for great beginner UI tweaks for Server [...]

By: Charles

Charles — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 04:17:09 +0000

There is a lot of bad advice in there for servers -

Dont install JRE, unless it is required for some software
Don’t disable the firewall
Don’t disable UAC
And if you have to disable IE controls, only do it for admins and not all users.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:42:41 +0000

Many admins may not want to install the Desktop Experience on a server unless necessary.

I just want to mention that you don’t need to enable the Desktop Experience to get the Computer, Control Panel, Recycle Bin, or any other icons on the desktop.

You can drag shortcuts to the desktop and they will function as expected. Even the Computer icon can be dragged to the desktop and retain the expected functionality when right clicking on it. (With the exception of Properties which shows you the shortcut properties rather than Server Properties).

By: BD

BD — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 17:41:40 +0000

Just an alternative to installing the Desktop Experience (not to mention the required additional features of Ink and Handwriting Services and Media Foundation) if you want the My Computer icon on the Desktop with all of the shell capabilities (ie Manage, Map Network Drive, etc): Open up Libraries (or Explorer) and simply drag Computer in the lefthand pane out to your Deskop. Rename shortcut as desired.

By: How to Get Start Button and Start Menu in Windows 2012 Server

How to Get Start Button and Start Menu in Windows 2012 Server — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:00:27 +0000

[...] have found an interesting article on getting back some of your favorite server GUI features on Windows 2102, you can go through this guide. It explains each steps nicely to work with Windows 2012 server GUI including Background Info (BGI). [...]

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:26:49 +0000

Why not just have a shortcut to BGinfo in the startup folder of all users. The shortcut can pass the parameters you require, and is quicker than having to spawn a dos window to run the cmd/bat file.

By: Willem

Willem — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 11:04:53 +0000

Acrobat is risky. Try Sumatra Reader. Doesn’t present any of the Acrobat flaws/security issues.

By: ATUL KHACHANE

ATUL KHACHANE — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 15:30:55 +0000

Excellent ! …. thanks for making life easier with 2012

By: Christian

Christian — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:54:05 +0000

Thanks for tips around Bginfo! I’ve forgot to add feature “Desktop Experience” so bginfo didn’t run in my case.
I totally agree that you only install the must have apps on production servers. For me its notepad++ and some other handy tools.

By: Thai

Thai — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 22:42:12 +0000

BGINFO not displaying on desktop.

Can you tell me where the setting to Enable “Display Wallpaper” is? I’m not sure how you go to your screen.

By: Anton

Anton — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:54:25 +0000

in old version of Windows had option to choose auto log in to be available ( Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to launch the “Run” dialog box.
Type in control userpasswords2)
but now in windows 2012 i don’t see a such option

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 02:07:33 +0000

I totally agree about NOT installing third-party apps by default in a server image. Security should be paramount, and both JRE and Adobe products are riddled with security issues.

Yes some server apps need Java, unfortunately, but just put JRE on those servers. I still can’t fathom why people don’t see the need to keep third party apps up to date when they have a long track record of compromising computers.

By: Trevor

Trevor — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:27:26 +0000

Where go you get the compatible version of bginfo for server 2012?