While Server 2008 Core was a great option to have, it came with a steep learning curve for some administrators. In Windows Server 2012, they changed the game a bit and made it to where you can install or remove the GUI at your leisure with only a reboot. We’ll show you how.
Introduction
Windows Server 2012 has a total of 4 different possible user interface states:
- Server Core
Server Core, just like it did in Windows Server 2008, appears as a command window on top of a dark background. All configurations for the server must be done via standard command prompt commands or PowerShell commands. - MinShell
MinShell is a new offering to Windows Server that is a hybrid between the Full Server and the Server core. After boot, the server shows just a command window on top of a dark background much like Server Core, but you are able to launch some of the GUI configuration utilities such as Server Manager from the command window. - Full Server
Full Server is the standard operating mode of a Windows Installation that most everyone is familiar with. A graphical shell is available for full on point and click interaction and management. - Full Server with Desktop Experience
Full Server with Desktop Experience is just like Full Server, but with some of the features that are turned off for the server version of Windows turned back on such as wallpapers, themes, Windows Store, Windows Media Player, Windows Mail and Windows Photo Viewer. Unless you are setting up a RDS Server, it is not recommended that you install the Desktop Experience.
In this article, we’ll cover switching between Server Core, MinShell and Full Server.
Uninstallation of the GUI
Switching between the Full Server and either Server Core or MinShell is quite simple. A reboot is required to complete the conversion, however. All you have to do is open a PowerShell window and run one of the following commands.
Server Core
PS C:\> Get-WindowsFeature *gui* | Uninstall-WindowsFeature -Restart
MinShell
PS C:\> Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell -Restart
Installation
For those cases where you get put on the spot and can’t think of those darn commands to resolve an issue, you step up from Server Core to MinShell or the Full Server by running one of the following PowerShell commands:
MinShell
PS C:\>Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra -Restart
Full GUI
PS C:\> Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell -Restart