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MetaIG's avatar
MetaIG
Copper Contributor
Jun 05, 2024

How to install Windows Server 2016 Core as a VM that has the GUI?

I have an installation of an ISO for Windows Server 2016 Core that I would like to run, but only within a VM but it came without the GUI, and I wanted to install the GUI version during setup but I wasn't able to. And since I'm running this installation only for the VM, I'm not sure how to set it up in the VM with the GUI.

 

Upon opening the installation, I am only given the ability to type into command prompt, and I cannot install other modules from there using Get-WindowsFeature

1 Reply

  • Aravind Mohanan's avatar
    Aravind Mohanan
    Copper Contributor
    Jul 05, 2024
    Once you install core version of Windows 2016, you will not be able to convert it to GUI version using PowerShell commands. We had this capability in windows 2012 R2.
    https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/windowsserver/2017/04/05/switching-between-windows-server-2016-server-core-and-desktop-experience/
    In my view there are 2 possibilities
    1. Continue with core version and use remote administration tools and PowerShell to manage the server
    2.Reinstall the server with GUI version.

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