Windows Server 2003 as a Workstation

[Bullfrog]

Well....like the topic says has anyone else started using Win2k3 as a workstation. So far I have converted about 75% of my XP Pro installs to Win2k3. The only problem so far that I have had is with the Catalyst 3.5 drivers on a 9700 Pro AIW card. Used the Omega drives and all is cool now.

My experience has been nothing but positive on the performance and stability front. I was amazed at the performance increase on my SMP systems. The memory usage and multi-tasking is FAR better then XP. I have yet to find a program that will NOT run...even games.

Matter of fact I am typing this on my main destkop at home running Win2k3 Standard. With a Asus A7N8X Deluxe Nforce2 board with a XP3000 and 1gig DDR3200. Has the 9700AIW in it too :D

Anyone else want to take the plunge?

[GotNoRice]

Although I’m using XP on my main box right now, I plan on putting 2003 on my xeon box when I get it back together.

When my main box went down I moved a few important pieces of hardware into my server (Video card and hard drives) and used that as my main box for a week or so. Ran great and had no problems whatsoever functioning as my main box.

[Silly]

Well frog, you've inspired me. I just got 2003 up and running on my server box to play with, but I had a question. Is there any way to get the XP look in 2003? Did I not install something I should have? Under task-bar properties it looks like the option is set to have the XP look, but under the appearance tab of display properties all I see is windows classic in the windows and buttons list... What went wrong?

[Silly]

Nevermind. Figured it out. (Had to enable themes service)

Here's a nice link for all who are going to try running 2003 on a desktop:
http://www.neowin.net/articles.php?action=more&id=54

[Moddy]

That thar is some good info!

Nevermind. Figured it out. (Had to enable themes service)

Here's a nice link for all who are going to try running 2003 on a desktop:
http://www.neowin.net/articles.php?action=more&id=54

[Bullfrog]

Very good link...wish I had found it sooner so I didn't have to muttle through figuring that stuff out. I will say though that everything in house except for the laptops and my sons computer are running 2003. My only real problem has been a driver install with a Radeon 9700 Pro AIW card. The catalyst 3.5 drivers kept giving me a blue-screen on reboot. Had to install an older driver set first then upgrade and the problem went away. Since then it has been as smooth as silk....

[fishmonger]

That thar is some good info!

This one's (http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/index.htm) good too. It's more a list "do this" format.

I'm running 2K3 right now on my workstation; Froggie inspired me at the last FLG.

[GotNoRice]

One thing I’m not sure about; why do you need to create a new account? I’ve just been using the Administrator account and everything seems to work okay.

[Bullfrog]

One thing I’m not sure about; why do you need to create a new account? I’ve just been using the Administrator account and everything seems to work okay.

You don't NEED to but if you hose that account then you are in trouble. The basic analogy would be like using the Root account as your main account on a Unix box. Personally, on my gaming systems I just use the administrator account because I don't really care if I screw the box up or not.

Plus I have pure gaming boxes that are not part of my home domain. When I am on machines in the domain I don't use the Administrator account. Everyone has their own logins and I follow good security practices. I am just lucky to have extra machines dedicated for LAN gaming and I can be more cavalier about their configurations. All a matter of taste....

[Silly]

Hey Bullfrog, you mentioned having problems with an AIW 9700. What version of the omega drivers fixed your problems? I have a 9600 right now, and 2k3 doesn't like the catalyst drivers. Just when I almost had a little faith restored in ATI (since the catalyst drivers were actually working under XP)

[GotNoRice]

Anyone remember the ntswitch app? I ran it because I needed to install something that wouldn't install on a "server" OS. Supposedly it only changes one little registry entry, but now when I boot EVERYTHING says XP :confused:

http://gotnorice.dynu.com/2003xp1.JPG
http://gotnorice.dynu.com/2003xp2.JPG

*shrug*

Edit: sillyass, what are the odds of us posting in this thread at almost the same time after it being dead for almost 2 weeks :)

[Silly]

Heh. Damn, I just noticed that as well. Maybee it's our Iwill boards cosmically linking us or something.

Oh, and nevermind about the ATI question. Seems to be working now. Don't know what I changed, but it stoped blue-screening and seems fine.


Where'd you get that ntswitch util GNR? Just in case I need it some day.

[GotNoRice]

Well I remember reading about it on the Inquirer a while back, and I tracked it down. Don’t remember exactly where I got it from, but You can get it here:
http://GotNoRice.dynu.com/ntswitch.zip

[Silly]

Thanks GNR.

How's this for a question: Does anyone know how to make the desktop icon font have no background color? In XP it's just transparent and you can see through to the image on the desktop, but in 2k3 so far it's set to a color and looks like crap. I remember that 2000 server/wkstn did this as well, but I was hoping there is a registry tweek to get it to the XP style.

[GotNoRice]

System Properties, Advanced Tab, Under "Performance" click settings, check the "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop". It's the 2nd check box from the bottom.

[Silly]

Oh beautiful. Thanks GNR, worked like a charm

[Bullfrog]

Silly...sorry for not responding but I was on vacation and took the family to Santa Cruz. Let the kids go play at the beach adn went to the BoardWalk. Had a blast and burned the crap out of the top of head.

Glad you got the drivers working on Win2k3 but what I did was install the older 3.4 drivers first. Which did not blue-screen on me and then upgraded to the 3.5 Omega drivers. I have not tried the 3.6 drivers yet and to be honest everything is working fine so I have no intention of messing with it. (I wonder how long that statement is going to last :) )

[Silly]

Well I'll be damned. I spent the entire time I had XP trying to figure out how to get rid of windows messenger without breaking everything else, and now that I switched to 2003, which doesnt' install that crap, I go and install windows messenger. Just thought it was funny :hittard:

[Anasazi]

Well I'll be damned. I spent the entire time I had XP trying to figure out how to get rid of windows messenger without breaking everything else, and now that I switched to 2003, which doesnt' install that crap, I go and install windows messenger. Just thought it was funny :hittard:



Well shit! Anyone have a "test" version of 2003 I can try?

[Punl<]

Well I'll be damned. I spent the entire time I had XP trying to figure out how to get rid of windows messenger without breaking everything else, and now that I switched to 2003, which doesnt' install that crap, I go and install windows messenger. Just thought it was funny :hittard:



Well shit! Anyone have a "test" version of 2003 I (and Punl&lt;) can try?
:cheeze: :D :hittard:

[Bullfrog]

Well I'll be damned. I spent the entire time I had XP trying to figure out how to get rid of windows messenger without breaking everything else, and now that I switched to 2003, which doesnt' install that crap, I go and install windows messenger. Just thought it was funny :hittard:



Well shit! Anyone have a "test" version of 2003 I can try?

Talk with me at Lantro on the 13th and I will hook you up.

[Defiant One]

Well I'll be damned. I spent the entire time I had XP trying to figure out how to get rid of windows messenger without breaking everything else, and now that I switched to 2003, which doesnt' install that crap, I go and install windows messenger. Just thought it was funny :hittard:



Well shit! Anyone have a "test" version of 2003 I can try?

Talk with me at Lantro on the 13th and I will hook you up.

I've got a few 180-day "time-bombed" copies... What kind of sexual favors are you willing to do?

[Anasazi]

Well I'll be damned. I spent the entire time I had XP trying to figure out how to get rid of windows messenger without breaking everything else, and now that I switched to 2003, which doesnt' install that crap, I go and install windows messenger. Just thought it was funny :hittard:



Well shit! Anyone have a "test" version of 2003 I can try?

Talk with me at Lantro on the 13th and I will hook you up.

I've got a few 180-day "time-bombed" copies... What kind of sexual favors are you willing to do?


Anything involving a slurpee, a hooker, 2 hotdogs, duct tape and wool clothing. :D

[Bullfrog]

Now THAT is too much to think about on a Sunday!