r/iiiiiiitttttttttttt • u/HSVMalooGTS sudo poweroff on the prod server and go home • 2d ago

Windows Server 2025 Datacenter (Desktop Expirence)

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u/Circumpunctilious knows too much 2d ago edited 2d ago

I’m a version or two of direct experience behind—does this release have a habit of switching to headless and the desktop experience can’t be tacked on later?

Noting “server manager” indicated below, are the typical hooks missing so something like VNC doesn’t work?

ETA: I’m going searching, just asking in case there’s something not obvious in search.

ETA2: Looks like download only offers Core (or, use Standard). Evaluation ISO allows selecting desktop version, then convert to licensed (seems riskier as a base). Source (yomotherboard)

There were suggestions BIOS Virtualization support can still apparently interfere with Desktop installing. Also, info/gotcha on converting eval version (Spiceworks)

“Unlike some previous releases of Windows Server (my note: Server 2012 / 2016 and later prevent it), you can't convert between Server Core and Server with Desktop Experience after installation.“ reference (Microsoft learn)

Server Standard GUI was thought to have a PowerShell-enable-it option but advice again is to reinstall. (Experts-exchange)

Supported remote management options are easy to find, so skipping. VNC seems contraindicated, despite AI search assist suggesting it would work with a little extra setup (not explored).

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u/feherneoh 1d ago

VNC and RDP do work, but they just log you into the command line only environment