Windows 2012 server Release Candidate fails install with vmware rel 8

Hi there

W2012 sever preview is a bit fiddly to install as a VM on a laptop -- well it IS a server OS !!!

1) after the initial install -- UNPLUG any external USB disks / sticks that you aren't using to install the VM on before the ist re-boot after all the files have been loaded.

2) for vmware specify it as a W7 x-64 machine if you are using the wizard.

3) set nr of processors to ONE and nr of Cores to 2 -- don't know why this particular combination worked but it did the trick

4) ensure vmware tools are installed

5) SOUND works but you have to enable the audio Manually -- on W8 server sound didm't work --end of.

6) you need to get IE from the Metro apps to the taskbar -- just pin to taskbar from the Metro app settings (Windows 8 users will know what I mean by this)


Note also choose the GUI install --otherwise you just get a server with the Powershell prompt at boot --fine for running a full blown server - but for testing on a laptop I suggest you use the GUI

I don't think "Themes" work -- it's a SERVER after all but at least it boots to the desktop

Ie security (usual on servers) -- very very fiddley to turn it off -- the supplied documentation in IE 10 doesn't work (Well it's microsoft so what did you expect !!)

I'm going to customize this to run as a workstation (switch off all the usual nags about re-booting servers etc --done this enough times with W2003 server) and see how I get on with this.

enc two screenshots

one --after boot -- to DESKTOP !!!! not metro
two the standard Metro screen.

Cheers
jimbo

Golden said:

Good God, it looks awful!

Hi there
That's because I haven't done any desktop customising yet (also remember it is a SERVER -- often these run without screens at all for weeks or even years at a time so "De-Uglification" isn't the highest priority)

The "Bog standard" desktop always looks horrible. Even in W7 the basic screen was fairly hideous too.

Cheers
jimbo