Comments on: Final Windows 2008 Workstation!

By: Vigan

Vigan — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:00:30 +0000

where i can download windows 2008 Arris: The URL to download the Windows Server 2008 iso can be found here.

By: nomoney

nomoney — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:31:14 +0000

i think Windows XP Professional are the best products of Microsoft

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:56:52 +0000

Windows Server 2008 and Windows XP Professional are the best products of Microsoft.

These are my test results :

1- Windows Server 2008 (fastest and best)
2- Windows XP Professional (forever OS)
3- Windows 7 Ultimate (deleted from my computers)
4- Windows Vista Ultimate (deleted from my computers)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:40:00 +0000

I use Wallpaper Manager and Show Desktop programs at startup.

Small icons for taskbar :

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

Write this in a text file and rename as .reg file and run. Example: Taskbar.reg

;Created for AskVG.com by Vishal Gupta
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
“MinWidth”=”-255″

If you want to cancel it from regitry, write this in a text file and rename as .reg file. Example: TaskbarCancel.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics]
“MinWidth”=-

These reg files are from Vishal Gupta’s http://www.askvg.com website.

By: Chris B

Chris B — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:18:49 +0000

Hi All,
been using Server 03 as a “daily driver” for a long time. Switched to ‘08 recently and found a handy trick if you’re having problems installing an application due to detected OS version.

In my case, the application had an MSI file. It would start initially, go through the TOS routine, then pop up w/ a box saying “this application is incompatible with this OS version” or something to that effect. Getting a verbose log from MSIExec, I saw the VersionNT and VersionNT64 properties were set to 600. While you can set some properties via. the command line, it didn’t seem to work for these.

I could open the MSI file up in notepad & see the whole “versionNT = 502″ or < = 500 logic... so I was about to find a hex editor to try to tweak these values. But I found something better!

So long story short, I used InstEd to remove the LaunchCondition that had the OS version rules in it (very easy, only deleted one "line").
http://www.instedit.com/home.html

Arris: Thanks! Interesting tool! Will take a look at it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:10:11 +0000

To ‘chdd’; Windows Server 2008 is not based on Windows Vista, it is based on Windows 7. It is why performance and stability differs. After Win 7 released, I will not hold Server 2008 on my PC, even the beta version was awesome. By the way thanks for the guide!! xD

By: Randy

Randy — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:27:40 +0000

I need to develop windows form based, asp.net web form based and sharepoint (all SQL server databased apps), while utilizing VSTO and which ever tools provide the programmatic manipulation of the office object model (formerly “Office Automation”) as I build BI apps.

Will “Server 2008 as a Workstation” allow me to do whatever is needed to build a single client and server development machine (preferably laptop) so that I can:

1. build a virtual machine for me as the user of visual studio 2008 & 2005, sharepoint designer, silverlight, and other dev tools, etc, and

2. build whatever is needed (virtual machines needed?) to host SQL Server 2005 & 2008, IIS 7.0, Sharepoint Services 3.0, SharePoint Office Server 2007, and whatever else I’ve forgotten.

I’m hoping that a 17″ laptop with 2.5mz clockspeed, 6-8 meg memory, and 2 300-500meg 7500rmp sata drives will do. I have yet to understand what processor and memory speed to settle with. Any suggestions on this.

thanks in advance

By: Andrej

Andrej — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:36:03 +0000

DenisM: it’s a known issue: hyper-v and nvidia driver do not go well together. either turn off hyper-v, or use standard windows drivers for your nvidia.

perhaps there is a better solution to this problem, given the fact that this issue is out there for quite some time now, but i’m too lazy to look it up.

By: Convert your Windows Server 2008 to a Workstation | JASMIN

Convert your Windows Server 2008 to a Workstation | JASMIN — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:45:28 +0000

[...] This manual will help you to install Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and to configure your pc so you can use it as a workstation. Thanks to DAz999, you can also download the full manual as a 6MB pdf file from here! You can use the Windows Server 2008 Workstation Converter made by sawo if you want to automate the whole process. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to post your question on the forums. You can view screenshots of my final Windows Server 2008 workstation here. [...]

By: skypilott2

skypilott2 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:24:09 +0000

DenisM,
I had problems with my nVidia video drivers crashing in both Server 2008 and Server 2008 R2, but not until I loaded Hyper-V each time. I tried every trick I could find to avoid the BSOD (system error 116, nvlddmkm.sys), to no avail. Finally, I ditched the nVidia video and installed a Radeon HD 4650 and have had no problems whatsoever ever since.

By: DenisM

DenisM — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:15:09 +0000

BTW, my wife’s laptop has Windows Server 2008 as well, but no Hyper-V and everything works just great – no any performance problems, Aero works nice etc. And this laptop has much less memory and CPU power than mine computer.

Can it be a Hyper-V problem?

Arris: I’m almost sure Hyper-V is the problem. Try uninstalling the Hyper-V Server Role on your own laptop and experience the difference!

By: DenisM

DenisM — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:13:33 +0000

I cannot understand what I did wrong – everything was enabled on my system as in this guide.
I have:
1. AMD x64 QuadCore 2,3GHz CPU
2. 4Gb 800MHz memory
3. 2 SATA HDDs: 500Gb for the system and files and 250Gb for virtual machines
4. GeForce 8400GS 256Mb video card
5. The Hyper-V is enabled.
6. I have 2 VMs running Win2K3R2, which suppose to use not more than 50% of my CPU power (and most time they’re idle)

When I enable all the items I have steady issues with GUI & Audio performance and I cannot play any video at all because my CPU goes 100%.

Example: I’m playing the audio with Winamp. When I open the word document the Winamp starts having the serious performance issue (music starts braking etc.) Same about loading some web pages.

When I try to play the video about 4-5 processes (including System) start taking almost 100% of the CPU, video doesn’t play and I can’t do anything.

Do you probably have some ideas what can cause that?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:48:24 +0000

I am now running Windows Server 2008 Datacenter. It is the best OS I ever seen!

By: Sid the cat

Sid the cat — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:46:38 +0000

Quick question... Is media centre available with this hack?? Thanks, Sid. Arris: Media Center is not yet ported to Windows Server 2008. See the Wish List.

By: ivex

ivex — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:52:23 +0000

server 2008 is crap, doesn’t support digital (DVB-T) television, i’ll try to crack it to vista and install decoders but probably going back to XP , darn I’d pay for that XP more than for server 2008, if they just fix those local network functions blah…future sux

By: Aaron

Aaron — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 20:28:15 +0000

I know I must be sounding like a broken record by now, but I’d just like to say thanks. My laptop came with Vista, and it got quickly reformatted with XP. One of my coworkers recommended Server 2008, and since I’m a university student I get it free through DreamSpark (note to any university students!). I downloaded it and installed it, and after floundering for a bit, I found your site and now I have a beautiful and functional OS.
So, thanks very much

Arris: Thanks for your comment! I’m glad you enjoy it!

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:17:53 +0000

Thanks a lot! You helped me extremly. I just wanted to use Server 2008 parallel to XP, only for the server stuff. Now I`m thinking of working completly on 2008. I get it for free (full free Version without that 280 days thing) on Microsoft Big Days. Now I finaly know what to do with.

Arris: I’m glad you like it and I’m sure many people are jealous at your free Windows Server 2008 license!

By: Gio

Gio — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:26:13 +0000

very good site
i didnt install my vista ,was usin xp for long time
when i saw this i install srv 2k8 in a blink

very good job keep up +1

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:32:41 +0000

I got Windows Server 2008 tricked into thinking its Vista Ultimate with a swap of the tokens.dat files in WINDOWS. Then I run a logon/logoff batch file that when you restart your computer, the computer thinks its Windows Server again, so even though my copy of Server 2008 is “Vista Ultimate” activated I still get updates for Server 2008!

By: Windows Server 2008 = Awesomeness

Windows Server 2008 = Awesomeness — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:46:41 +0000

So far the only disappointment I have is AVG 8.0 doesn’t work with Server 2008, unless its a server edition. Sucks too because in my dual boot OS of Vista Ultimate that I do have it has AVG 8.0 licensed until 2018.

To get AVG 8.0 FREE until 2018 just download the trial version of AVG.com or Download.com (whatever…) and when you get to the installation section that asks for key put in this:

8MEH-REDSL-7ETEC-ULA8R-EAOKL-4EMBR-ACED