On this page we create a list of our wishes for getting applications working in Windows Server 2008 or other preferences. If you want a feature that is not on this list, add a comment so I’ll add it.
Wish List
On this page we create a list of our wishes for getting applications working in Windows Server 2008 or other preferences. If you want a feature that is not on this list, add a comment so I’ll add it.
XINPUT9_1_0.dll is XInput (handling input from XBOX 360 devices) from DirectX, installing the newest DirectX may fix that.
The reason that Vista Media Center doesn’t work is because the executables rely on Windows services to work properly, which are not installed. You would have to register the services with Windows and set them to start-up if you want it to work, but I imagine that’s where some of the Vista bloat comes from in th first place.
DreamScene!!! I have been trying to copy the files from Vista Ultimate, but with no success. Am using the x64 versions, btw… has anyone had any luck?
>>>People say that if you install Microsoft Terminal Services you can use themes, but I want it to be working without Microsoft Terminal Services
Um, even in Vista, Remote Desktop (RDP) using Aero is running the Administrator Terminal Services Server.
On Vista (RDP w/Aero = Terminal Server Services Administrator Mode)
Not sure how you could be so technically literate and not understand this basic concept. Go read up on RDP, Terminal Services, and the default Admin Mode of Terminal Services of 2008.
You can obviously install the non-administrator version of terminal services as well, but this is for having several users access the computer, not for remote administration.
Arris: I got this information from this TechNet topic. Hope you now understand what my point is.
Media Center depends on several services (files may not be in Server Install) and have to be copied, registered, & installed as services) -
No these do not add bloat to Vista as someone suggested, since if the users doesn’t e ven havea TV Tuner card, a very lite version of the service runs that is for remote media access.
Media Center also is DirectX reliant, make sure you run the latest DirectX runtime distribution as well once you get the services running and the EXEs regi.)
Hi,
Do you know if tablet PC feature would work on the Windows 2008 Workstation?
thanks for all those tips!
Arris: A Tablet PC is officially not supported by Windows Server 2008, but maybe people are able to port it from Windows Vista.
How can you get the Windows index / search feature working?
Yes I know it sucks but it can be useful in Outlook 2007, if only to stop Outlook 2007 complaining about the Index service not running.
I can’t see a ‘Windows Search’ service in the services.msc list nor anything relevant in the Add Features list.
‘Indexing Options’ is in the Control Panel list but when you open it there’s a message ‘Indexing is not running’ but, typically, there’s no hint about how to get it running.
Thanks
Van
I found the answer to my ‘Windows Search’ question over at Office Watch http://news.office-watch.com/t/?a=589&z=9 which has a useful summary of the Windows 2008 ‘workstation’ situation as it relates to Microsoft Office with links to this site.
Van
Arris: Thanks. Added the installation of the Windows Search service to the manual.
for some reason sony vegas Pro 6.0 runs funny on 2008 workstation setup
What about “Windows Meeting Place” & “Windows Movie Maker”?
What about DVD decoding in Windows Media Player that is included in Vista Ultimate?
Bluetooth support
Arris: Have you tried installing the Wireless LAN Service Feature in the Server Manager? This topic contains more information about Windows Server 2008 Bluetooth support.
Remote Assistance
Arris: You can install Remote Assistance via the Add Features Wizard in the Server Manager. After installing the feature, you can configure it by opening System in the Control Panel and clicking Remote Settings on the left.
DreamScene
Regarding BT, as mentioned in the forums I tried to install Dell drivers (is a Dell
and then Toshiba stack.
With that I get some basic BT file transfer features, but cannot make my windows-based smartphone to sync over BT via Windows Mobile Device Center (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=46f72df1-e46a-4a5f-a791-09f07aaa1914&displaylang=en&tm)
BTW, thanks for RA pointer
BTW, WMDC isntalls, but cannot see the smartphone neither over USB cable.
Dream Scene replacement (expiring beta yet): http://www.desktopfx.net/
BT and WMDC sync now working.
Just change in WMDC BT port with COM port that Toshiba BT lists in Control Panel as “LocalCOM-Server[SerialPort(TOSHIBA LocalCOM)”.
Would like to see compatiblity with sidebar and server 2008 improvments in the gadgets
install MPEG2(dvd) decoder.
but not included AC3 sound filter…
copy this from vista…
regsvr32 /s Mpeg2Data.ax
regsvr32 /s mpg2splt.ax
regsvr32 /s kstvtune.ax
regsvr32 /s MSDvbNP.ax
regsvr32 /s MSNP.ax
regsvr32 /s VBICodec.ax
regsvr32 /s vbisurf.ax
Services, here you are working to enable vista features. But what about customizing server? I’m working on disabling some services doesn’t required for workstation, maybe some info already exist anywhere?
Anyone have joy.cpl?
This along with the XINPUT9_1_0.dll file placed in System32 will get the Xbox 360 Wireless controller working!
XINPUT9_1_0.dll file can be downloaded from Microsoft. File is: directx_mar2008_redist and is contained in the unzipped archive: Oct2005_xinput_x64.
As for the Vista x64 joy.cpl, anyone know where I can download it?!
Arris: Thanks for your information about XINPUT. I uploaded joy.cpl from a Vista SP1 x64 to megaupload but for me the configuration window didn’t show up when double clicking… You can try to use Process Monitor to monitor what goes wrong when opening joy.cpl.
Being able to install windows media plugins for IE, firefow or opera.. the install just says that it doesnt support server OS
Arris: I assume you are trying to install the Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin.
1. Download wmpfirefoxplugin.exe and start it.
2. Leave the installer open, browse with Windows Explorer to the folder %tmp% and copy the randomname.msi you can find there to for example your desktop.
3. Close the installer, modify the .msi file using the Installing UT3 tutorial, then install!
Well it worked sort of.. now ff doesnt complain about missing plugin, but the radiostation still doesnt play ;-(
and the msi installation worked fine after i modified it
test for yourself.. http://netradio.dr.dk/content.asp?station=3&participant=yes
Arris: In Firefox v2.0.0.14 with Microsoft Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin v1.0.0.8 I have to wait a couple of seconds and the music starts playing. Picture. Have you waited long enough?
Right as far as vista intergrated games are concerned, I took the games of a vista x64 machine along with the GameUX registry entry, and installed them into Server 2008, then after I put the games under C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games I installed the registry entry, when I try to play a games I get the error about Xinput9_1_0.dll, I tried installing latest DirectX and Xinput files from the web and kept getting the error, finally, I took the Xinput file from Vista X64, but now the games dont work and I do not get the error, also once you have the games in the right directory, if you click the right mouse button on the start button and click properties and then go to start menu and click customise, if you go down the list and then click games, the games explorer will start coming up when you click games, unfortunate thing is I have not been able to get the gamees to show in the explorer yet.
As for the hacked games, unless someone knows where to download the patch for the various games that crash when you close the game, then I dont know how to install these ones.
The Vista Game Explorer would really be great!
Has anyone gotten it to work right?
Thanks.
Arris: I found out that after you registered the gameux.dll and restart your pc, you can access the Game Explorer by typing Games into the location bar in Windows Explorer. I just installed Gears of War from which I assume it will automatically be added to the Game Explorer, but it doesn’t appear there…
Hi all, windows server 2008 is great windows. However, i cannot run vista embedded games.
Before copying the xinput files: i get this from error details:
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Chess.exe
Application Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Application Timestamp: 47919e42
Fault Module Name: XINPUT9_1_0.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a783
Exception Code: c0000135
Exception Offset: 0006ecfb
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.400.8
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 9d13
Additional Information 2: 1abee00edb3fc1158f9ad6f44f0f6be8
Additional Information 3: 9d13
Additional Information 4: 1abee00edb3fc1158f9ad6f44f0f6be8
After copying xinput9_1_0.dll from Oct2005_xinput_x64 to wow64 folder and Oct2005_xinput_x86 to system32.
I get this from error details:
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: Chess.exe
Application Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Application Timestamp: 47919e42
Fault Module Name: ntdll.dll
Fault Module Version: 6.0.6001.18000
Fault Module Timestamp: 4791a783
Exception Code: c000007b
Exception Offset: 0006ecfb
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.400.8
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: 9d13
Additional Information 2: 1abee00edb3fc1158f9ad6f44f0f6be8
Additional Information 3: 9d13
Additional Information 4: 1abee00edb3fc1158f9ad6f44f0f6be8
I wonder whether this is related to os error. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.
twkkhan, I took my Xinput file from a clean version of Vista, the unfortunate thing about this is the fact that none of the games dont work, the only good thing is that you dont get the Xinput error. I also tried a couple of files out of the registry, but still no look.
I’d like to have Messenger 8.5 and other Live programs like Live Writer working on Server 2008…
Arris: Take a look at the forum. Zolee001 uploaded all full .msi files to his Skydrive!
“Admin: In Firefox v2.0.0.14 with Microsoft Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin v1.0.0.8 I have to wait a couple of seconds and the music starts playing. Picture. Have you waited long enough?”
Im using FF 3 beta, but the problem is also in safari, and yes ive waited long enough hehe
WMDC question: I can’t get it to install, it says:
“The update could not be installed because at least one windows component required by Windows Mobile Device Center is missing.”
I do not have .NET, Desktop Experience etc. installed.. anyway, what do I need? Please help, how your WMDC worked?!
—
And a tip from me:
I found a method how to switch off ClearType font smoothing under Office 2007 (Word etc) with 2008 Server (and perhaps with Vista)
1. Start WINWORD.EXE in compatibility mode (from the program files/office directory… right click, properties, compatibility, you can select emulating 2003 server for example)
2. Now you can see and switch off in Word options / popular menu the “always use cleartype” pipe.
3. After this, you can remove compatibility, and there won’t cleartype any more
Arris: You *must* have Desktop Experiene installed in order to use WMDC. See the Enable Offline Files feature tutorial for more info.
Thank you! (sorry for being blind)
My Motorola MPX200 with asi_ -s WM6 synchronizes now!
Well again I have tried to install Vista games in Server 2008 and I still get the problem with not playing, I have tried pretty much everything I know, I am not a programmer so I cannot help in that department, but I took the reg keys out that belong to the games and the games explorer and installed them into server 2008 and nothing works. As for the hacked Vista Games For XP, some of these games work, except for solitaire and spider Solitair + Minesweeper. as the 2 solitaire games needs to be patched and I have looked everywhere for this and minesweeper needs a .bat file created.
http://jonnyw1989.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/windows-vista-games-for-xp-update/
Arris: Maybe it’s possible to find out what the problem is using Sysinternals Process Monitor. For what I found out about the Game Explorer see my response here.
Readyboost on Windows Server…. heh any ideas?
[Not a wishlist item but I couldn't find a better category. -Gideon7]
Windows Server 2008 is a big win for backup. See http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/cc462796.aspx
Vista’s wbadmin.exe gives the following command-line options:
wbadmin 1.0 – Backup command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2004 Microsoft Corp.
—- Commands Supported —-
START BACKUP — Runs a backup
STOP JOB — Stops the currently running backup or recovery
GET VERSIONS — List details of backups recoverable from a
specific location
GET ITEMS — Lists items contained in the backup
GET STATUS — Reports the status of the currently running job
Windows Server 2008′s wbadmin.exe gives the following additional options:
wbadmin 1.0 – Backup command-line tool
(C) Copyright 2004 Microsoft Corp.
—- Commands Supported —-
ENABLE BACKUP — Enable or modify a scheduled daily backup
DISABLE BACKUP — Disables running scheduled daily backups
START BACKUP — Runs a backup
STOP JOB — Stops the currently running backup or recovery
GET VERSIONS — List details of backups recoverable from a
specific location
GET ITEMS — Lists items contained in the backup
START RECOVERY — Run a recovery
GET STATUS — Reports the status of the currently running job
GET DISKS — Lists the disks that are currently online
START SYSTEMSTATERECOVERY — Run a system state recovery
START SYSTEMSTATEBACKUP — Run a system state backup
DELETE SYSTEMSTATEBACKUP — Delete system state backup(s)
In other words you can schedule CompletePC backups, something not possible in Vista. Another new feature: You can back up and restore the SystemState (C:\Windows\*) separate from the rest of the computer. See the TechNet article for details.
Arris: Fixed the url
Never used Windows Backup, but sounds like a nice feature indeed!
Can’t find the snipping tool from vista I was hoping it was instaled with the desktop experience pack.
Hello!
Can you add a ready boost to wish list?
Windows Speech Recognition should be added to Windows Server 2008. It is one of the feature that distinguish Vista from XP.
Need – Windows Speech Recognition for Windows Server 2008
Please add System Restore to the wish list.
Arris: See the topic System Restore? on the forum for more info.
Unlike system restore, Windows Server Backup is unrealistic for a workstation (for me, 30 GB for custom backup and 95 GB for full backup).
System Restore is an important feature to Windows Vista. Average user cannot use Windows Server Manager due to the excessively large backup size.
Arris: I checked it out and you are right: it is only possible to make backups of your whole Windows partition and thats way too much!
one thing I wold like to see is Windows Performance index
Arris: Get the tool winsat.exe from the system32 folder of a Vista installation with the same architecture as your Windows Server 2008.
C:\Windows\System32>winsat -? Windows System Assessment Tool Command line usage: WINSAT [switches]
Valid assessment names
formal run the full set of assessments and save the results
features just run the features assessment
cpu run the cpu assessment
mem run the system memory assessment
dwm run the desktop window manager assessment
d3d run the d3d assessment
media run the media assessment
mfmedia run the Media Foundation based assessment
disk run the storage assessment
An assessment name is mandatory.
The 'formal' assessment will run all the assessments and save the data
in '%systemroot%\windows\performance\datastore' This is the only
assessment that will save data in this location.
The 'features' assessment simply enumerates the system's features.
This is best used with the '-xml ' switch to save the data.
The '-eef' switch can be used to enumerate extra features such as
optical disks, memory modules, and other items.
Other command line paramters include include:
'-v' enable verbose output
'-xml ' save the XML output to 'filename'
Running the "winsat dwm" command will re-assess the systems graphics
capabilities and restart the desktop window manager.
Please see the online Command Reference for more information
on the command line parameters used with the other assessments.
C:\Windows\System32> Admin Does the Winsat.exe file need to be from a clean installation of Vista, also how do I apply this to server 2008
Arris: You can copy it from any Vista with the right architecture. I Copied it from a Vista Ultimate SP1 x64. In Server 2008 place it in the System32 directory.
OK, I finally get the Snipping Tool to work on Windows Server 2008 and it can be download here: http://www.mediafire.com/?3ed04mmxx9h
Here is a mirror for the snipping tool:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JB5RI61O
Admin, Arris, Snipping Tool has already been satisfy.
Arris: Nice job!
I set the status to satisfied! 
I’ve come across something on another site for using Media Center part of Vista/XP on an original XP, but unsure if it works on Server 2008, and at present I cannot try it as I do not have server 2008 installed. Here is the link if anyone wants to try it:-
http://forum.crystalxp.net/index.php?showtopic=36062&pid=489175&st=0&#entry489175
Arris: The files aren’t available anymore, and when I tried to copy the files/registry keys from Windows XP Media Center Edition manually, it keeps saying that I am not running Windows XP Media Center… :-/
I have tried to get that media center to work as I said in my previous post, as I got about 2 or 3 errors duing the installation, also I needed files of my Media Center 2005 Cd 2 disc
Arris: Looks nice! Will take a look at this in the weekend!
Add Windows Fax and Scan to the list since I really need to use my scanner.
Admin, Windows Fax and Scan work fine. I have to add shortcut to All Programs since it does not appear in my computer automatically when a scanner is plug in.
Admin, I got Windows Fax and Scan to work. Windows Fax and Scan is already include in Windows Server 2008. To enable Windows Fax and Scan, 1. you must go to Server Manager 2. Add Roles 3. Select Fax Server and Printing Services 4. Install.
Arris: Haha, nice job! A solution can be that easy!
I tested it and it turns out that you don’t need to have Desktop Experience installed, so removed your other post.