We decided to issue a specific version of our main tool MSC that worked on Server 2008 R2 and Server 2012.

The major problem was that most of fixes, tweaks and packs were for R2 and also that our previous *.exe file did not work on Server 2012 immediately but required a prior NetFx3 Feature enabling that was long, very long....

Therefor we fixed a specific standalone tool only for Server 2012 that works with NetFx4 and no need to enable NetFx3 Feature if you do not use it.

We added Classic Shell, you may be tempted to use it.

Installation Directory : C:\Program Files (x86)\MSC2012

Changelog 01/09/2012 :

1/ Xinput.dll and Xaudio.dll (thanks to Allukend and Arris)

2/ Performance Information and Tools (thanks to rallymoose)

Changelog 11/09/2012 :

1/ Automatically boot to Classic Desktop (thanks to Igal Tabachnik)

2/ Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only

3/ Disable Structured Exception Handling Overwrite Protection (SEHOP)

Changelog 24/09/2012 :

1/ Added MS DirectMusic Core Services

2/ Added Game Controllers Control Panel Applet

3/ Added GameUX.dll

4/ Added msmpeg2enc.dll

5/ Enable/disable Advance Boot Options

6/ Add W7 Intel Colored Aero Pointers

7/ Add W8 Aero Pointers as Default or as Scheme

8/ Add W8 Wallpaper

9/ Fixed password complexity and length requirement removal, NetFx3 is no longer required, neither reboot

Changelog 30/09/2012 :

1/ Reorganized tool and made only 1 version, which is easier to keep updated

2/ Added Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8 -> Ex7ForW8 Project made by Tihiy, with his kind permission.

-> http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/157302- ... windows-8/

We fixed it so it works in all 35 languages available for Server 2012 and you do not need to hunt for your W7/R2 DVD.

Changelog 10/12/2012 :

1/ Added System Restore Pack

2/ Added BDA Support Pack

Changelog 09/05/2013 :

1/ Added Sticky Notes Pack

2/ Added Cinepak Pack

Here some screens :













Download Link :



N and Team

The following options failed to install:

• superfetch
• games explorer
• uxtheme patch
• msmpeg2enc.dll
• msmpeg2vdec.dll & msmpeg2adec.dll
• cinepak
• enable visual theme service says failed, but themes work

I have attached the logfiles from my attempts.

OK.

Thank you we'll take a look at this.

But I can already tell you that some packs are specific to R2 only such as:

*superfetch -> I think it's back again in W8, was in Dev Preview !
*games explorer -> files for R2 only
*uxtheme patch -> files for R2 only
*msmpeg2enc.dll -> files for R2 only
*msmpeg2vdec.dll & msmpeg2adec.dll -> R2 update so no go on W8
*cinepak -> files for R2 only

So no big deal. We have some work that's it. LOL.

The Horsemen

Wow neige, you're amazing already getting a jump on this. My pet wish for the Server 8 Converter would be some way to enable the Start Menu/Button that works like 7 or XP, and then Metro is launched as an application (the way it should be on a Workstation IMHO). I have read that someone was hacking around in one of the earlier Windows 8 Beta's explorer.exe and some of the DLL it uses with a Hex Editor and found he could enable a functional Start Menu -- but that it was not stable.

This is probably going to be very impractical or a kludge that requires a second 'fake' application running some sort of 'Start Button' application like Start Menu XP, a cheap hack like this one on HTG... The best solution IMHO would be a really ambitious project like free open source project Classic Shell -- which may even work as Server 8's shell, but I haven't had the time to try it...

I miss your Cat picture btw.

Hi hoak,

TY for the feedback.

I fully agree with you about that Start Button, I really miss it too. I heard about the explorer.exe project and I am trying to get some more information on it.

I hope that we will be able to come up with a solution as you stated very well. I do not quite understand why they took it off on Server Edition.

Maybe they knew that we would transform it to Workstation OS so they did not bother about it lol..........

In anyway I'll keep you all posted here if we make progress.

What concerns the cat avatar, my cat that was called Neige, I decided to change for some time avatar. I'll be back with it soon.

TY for asking, I appreciate.

N

Cool!

Hey I just noticed this on the Classic Shell FAQ, so it does appear to at least superficially support Windows 8... It may not be an ideal solution but it is a FOSS project that may at least offer some resources (and hope) for a direction to explore (no pun intended)...

Next time I try Windows 8 I'll certainly give the Classic Shell a try as well as a few other alternative Windows Shell projects that might work to see if they offer more practical Workstation UI that's also well behaved and robust...

Love your work neige!

Hi hoak,

I tested this Classic Shell Project, seems very sober work.







Also it has silent switches for install, that is very good, it can be added to MCS as pack.

I keep you updated.

N

Wow that looks pretty neat! Is it well behaved? Does it still allow you to launch Metro stuff should that ever be needed? Just from your initial reaction alone I have a feeling if Microsoft doesn't change direction (which seems likely this late in the game) on the Windows 8 and Server 8 Desktop\Workstation interface design -- you and the Classic Shell Developers are going to be quite popular with the Server 8 and Windows 8 Administrators and Users...

It works well and it behaves like regular Start Menu, also when you press Windows Button on keyboard it's pops up.

I have fixed a $OEM$ pack together and I am going to silent switch install.

I'll keep you posted.

LOL for being popular....

N

LOL, well I wasn't entirely joking; consider: Windows Server 8, and to a lesser extent Windows 8 will get deployed in mission critical applications, and as you've seen for yourself, certain parts of the Windows 8 interface do not allow the Administrator/User to multi-task when some parts and features UI are being used... That will be a 'deal breaker' of epic proportions, just getting kicked out of the Desktop to Metro could literally be a life and death situation where critical data can not be monitored and administered concurrently with configuring some system settings...