Switching between Core, Full and Minimal GUI
With Windows Server 2012 you can switch between a 'Server Core' and a complete 'Full' installation.
Contents
With Windows Server 2012 you can switch between a “Server Core” and a complete “Full” installation. Technically, the GUI components are implemented as Windows Features and can be installed or removed via ServerManager, PowerShell or DISM.
Server Core to “Full” GUI
PowerShell
Import-Module ServerManager
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell -RestartNote: changing Windows Features via PowerShell requires the PS module “ServerManager”.
DISM
Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:ServerCore-FullServer /featurename:Server-Gui-Shell /featurename:Server-Gui-Mgmt“Full” GUI to Server Core
PowerShell
Import-Module ServerManager
Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell -RestartDISM
Dism /online /disable-feature /featurename:ServerCore-FullServerMinimal Server Interface
The new “Minimal” GUI is a compromise between Server Core and the “Full” GUI. The “Minimal” installation removes the desktop, the Start menu, Windows Explorer and IE; ServerManager, MMC including most snap-ins and part of the Control Panel are still available. (Specifically, all Control Panel items that are not implemented as Windows Explorer add-ins.)
You can use PowerShell or ServerManager to enable the new “Minimal” GUI, a kind of hybrid between the “Core” and “Full” GUI.
Server Core to “Minimal”
Install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra -Restart“Full” GUI to “Minimal”
Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell -Restart