~~~This post will be updated with more content over time. Note that many of these also work in Windows 7, except for the Server > Workstation conversion stuff.~~~
Xxcom9a: More tweaks and a full conversion guide for the final version of R2 can be found at http://www.win2008r2workstation.com/.

Windows Live Messenger - Return To System Tray
Annoyed with the new behavior of WLM appearing in the taskbar and not the system tray? Simple fix - first close WLM completely, and change the shortcuts' Compatibility > Windows Vista. Now it will go into the system tray or "notification area" instead of your taskbar =)

Libraries - Add/Remove Desktop Icon
The new Libraries feature in Windows 7 is pretty cool when you set it all up the way you want it. To add the icon to your desktop, run the registry file here. There is also a second key in this ZIP file that removes the icon (back to default).

Attachment:

Libraries Desktop Icon - Add Or Remove.zip

Windows Server 2008 R2 > Workstation Checklist
Whenever I try out a new OS, I always make a textfile checklist of the things I do and plan-to-do whenever I reinstall. I decided to share my personal one for 2008 R2, especially in regards to converting to a Workstation this may be useful for some of you. Many things are similar to Server 2008 R1.

Attachment:

Server 2008 R2 To Workstation.txt.zip

Add Custom Shortcuts To My Computer
Like this screenshot...

...I find the Network Connections one especially useful! Grab this ZIP file, it currently only has "Recycle Bin" and "Network Connections", as well as removal/undo ones to get rid of them. If you have a request for other Windows system things you'd like a My Computer shortcut for, let me know and i'll find it!
NOTE: This also works for Windows Vista/2008 R1. The icons added apply to all accounts (system wide), not just the current user (if you only want current user, change the reg keys yourself to point to HKCU instead of HKLM )


Drive Letters First in My Computer
I don't like the default Vista+ behavior of how drive letters go last, it sorts by the harddisk label instead of drive letter. Sure it's nice if you remember your file location by label, but if you have lots of partitions and virtual CD/DVD drives then it can be easier to put the drive letters first so its sorted alphabetically that way. Should also work on Vista.
Drive letters before:

Drive Letters after (Default):

{All that REG file does is delete the key, restoring the default}

Custom Icon View on Desktop
OK, you're either one of two people when it comes to Windows. You love to keep your desktop spotless and empty, or you use it as a spot for junk and uncategorized work files. I'm the later. I work with a lot of different filetypes, photo's and videos and documents and images... it's nice to customize the folder view of the Desktop too. I like the Tiles mode. Here's how you do it:

You can even make the Desktop in Details and List mode with this But it looks a little strange!

Install Windows 7/Server 2008 R2 from a USB drive
I havn't tested this myself, but others have reported it to work very well. Here's how.

Cool thanks for sharing

Thank you

great!

I just wanted to add that I was able to change the blue log on screen in server 2008 R2 build 7127,it was something i found a while back called tweakslogon-by the way,thanks for all the tips here!

Nice little app! I'd been using Vista Visual Master, but this little app is smaller and more to the point.

Appreciate the update! Does this build of R2 still have the Vista UI or does it feature the new Windows 7 UI enhancements? Also, have you tried running any 3d applications or games to see how they perform?

The fact that Server 2003 Web edition not only consistently out performs XP running DirectX 9 applications (and games for those interested), but is so much better behaved -- has made it a superb production platform for Game Development...

I'm hoping there will be a Web edition of R2, and that it will offer similar capability of installing a very clean build environment that offers similar performance and relieability advantages with DirectX 10-11 -- Server 2008 SP2 isn't quite there, and Windows 7 still looks and performs like a bloated Consumer/Idiot OS...

Server 2008 R2 has the Windows 7 UI in full, the Superbar is all there and thanks to AsciiWolf we also have the Desktop Gadgets too (not sure if he made it or just found it though) anyway here's the things:

Server 2008 R2 Desktop Gadgets: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=739&p=4327&hilit=sidebar#p4327
Server 2008 R2 GameUX Patch: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=861#p4134
[Above does not give Game Explorer however, just fixes some Vista-Only game detection]
Server 2008 R2 Gamepads Control Panel Applet: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=861#p4136
[With the above installed you need to do Start > Run > joy.cpl because it doesnt appear in control panel, however my PS3 SIXAXIS Controller is working GREAT in Server 2008 R2 ]


I've been running Server 2008 R2 Release Canidiate for a month or two now, and games run very well. Command and Conquer 3 (and Red Alert 3), The Sims 3, Fallout 3, BioShock, Doomsday Engine [Doom sourceport using OpenGL], DOSBox, WinUAE [Amiga Emulator], gaming works great hoak!

The only two quarrels I have is that Superfetch is not present at all in Server 2008 R2 - but it still is fast, it just doesnt reboot super fast like Windows 7 does. However I never turn my computer off anyway, I always put it to Sleep - which brings me to the second quarrel; sleep is not in the start menu. You have to go to CTRL+ALT+DELETE and go to the power-button in the bottom-right and choose Sleep from there.

Thanks, I still wonder if DX9 and 10 games will perform better on the Sever OS's then they do on the Client as was the case with 2003 vs XP...

I'm not sure what you mean by 'sleep' mode but if you mean Hibernate, I think the same method should work as with the other OS's and you can just create a shortcut with:

"rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState Hibernate"

...for the 'location' and name it and name it "Hibernate". Now that I think of it I seem to recall reading they changed the Hybernate parameter to Sleep in Vista, so you might try that if Hibernate doesn't work -- though most versions of Windows preserve legacy parameters and command line arguments...

I used RC1 of Windows 7 [build 7100] and found that many games on my Athlon X2 5000+ with 9600GT would crash and glitch up, no matter what nVidia drivers I used and even on a fresh Win7 install. However switiching to Server 2008 R2 Build 7100 when that came out, and using the exact same nVidia drivers, it no longer crashed or glitched or had any "hitches".

I think the main reason why Server is sometimes faster than Workstation [not for everyone] is that it doesnt have all the bulk behind it and extra services. Windows Search, Media Center extenders, all that stuff. But some people dont have much of a speed improvement, I imagine that a current-gen computer - such as an Intel i7 with 8GB of RAM and a 10,000RPM SATA-II harddisk - would probably make no difference.



Yup, I have that command bound to WINKEY+F12