Most of us might not be aware that there is a
Windows Core version, which has only command-line without any GUI.
This core version relatively provides high
level of security, as all GUI interface are removed, which also increases the
performance of the system.
This might be helpful
if you are running Windows server.
Up until Windows Server 2008, once you install the core version, or the full GUI version, you cannot switch back.
Up until Windows Server 2008, once you install the core version, or the full GUI version, you cannot switch back.
However in Windows Server 2012, it provides
the following three modes, and you can easily switch between GUI to core, and
core to GUI.
1.
Nomal GUI mode – The standard
OS with full GUI features.
2.
Graphical mode –
Management tools and Infrastructure. This mode provides only few essential GUI
tools. For example, management tools like Server manger, Disk management
console, etc.
3.
Core mode – No GUI in
this mode. You’ll get only command prompt with powershell.
This tutorial explains how you can switch from
Core version to GUI mode, and from GUI mode to Core version.
I. Switch from Core Version to GUI Mode
1. Launch Powershell
From the command prompt, launch the powershell
as shown below.
C:\> powershell
PS C:\>
2. Import Server Modules
By default, to increase the server
performance, all modules and commands are not loaded in server. We have to
import the modules using the following command:
PS C:\> import-module
serverManager
3. Change User Interface Mode
To change user interface from Command mode to
GUI mode:
For full GUI mode:
Install-windowsfeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell
-Restart
For graphical management tools and
infrastructure:
Install-Windowsfeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra -Restart
To change user interface from GUI mode to
command mode:
For full command (core) mode:
Uninstall-Windowsfeature
Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra,
Server-Gui-Shell -Restart
For graphical management tools and infrastructure:
Uninstall-Windowsfeature
Server-Gui-Shell -Restart
For our example, let us do the following:
PS C:\>
install-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell -Restart
After entering the above command, it will
extract all binary files and start the installation. After completing
installation server will reboot automatically. When the system starts, Windows
will be running in the new mode.
II. Switch from GUI to Core Command Mode
1. Launch “Remove Roles and Features”
Open server manger -> Select “Manage” from
the menu -> Select “Remove Roles and Features” as shown below.
Press next on the welcome page.
In the next screen, select the server from the
server pool. By default our local server is selected, but we can perform
add/remove feature task to remove server by adding server IP in server pool.
2. Select User Interface Features
Now, you can select or unselect the options
under user interface and infrastructure features option as per your
requirement.
To change user interface from GUI mode to
Command mode:
For full command (core) mode: Uncheck both
“Graphical Management and infrastructure” and “Server Graphical shell”.
For graphical management tools and
infrastructure: Uncheck only “Server Graphical shell” option
3. Remove GUI Features
Select the features that you like to remove.
This will also automatically select any dependent features that needs to be
removed.
After the above step, the server will reboot.
After the reboot, when the system comes back up, you’ll see not see GUI
anymore. You’ll get only the command prompt with powershell.
Courtesy
by: - http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2014/07/switch-windows-gui-mode/
