Server 08 x86 build on Technet

[Bman212121]

Just an FYI to technet subscribers. After looking at the Vista SP1 thread Q noted that the x64 version of Server 08 was out. I just looked and I can now get the x86 version. It's dated 2/6/08.

Going to download and install since work is closed due to the weather. :)

[Q]

Just an FYI to technet subscribers. After looking at the Vista SP1 thread Q noted that the x64 version of Server 08 was out. I just looked and I can now get the x86 version. It's dated 2/6/08.

Going to download and install since work is closed due to the weather. :)

It's looking pretty darn good from a server standpoint, so far. Lots of cool new features and a better layout than 03. I'm having trouble running it as a desktop OS (likely driver issue, display problems), but it seems to be pretty darn robust.

[Wolfhound]

Just an FYI to technet subscribers. After looking at the Vista SP1 thread Q noted that the x64 version of Server 08 was out. I just looked and I can now get the x86 version. It's dated 2/6/08.

Going to download and install since work is closed due to the weather. :)


Please report, I´m highly interested for work reasons

[Smitty]

It's looking pretty darn good from a server standpoint, so far. Lots of cool new features and a better layout than 03. I'm having trouble running it as a desktop OS (likely driver issue, display problems), but it seems to be pretty darn robust.


What display problems are you experiencing? I just got done loading it and turning the Vista features on.

The NVIDIA Vista x86 drivers seemed to work fine for me.

This was a helpful guide:

http://www.merawindows.com/Forums/tabid/324/forumid/-1/threadid/19674/scope/posts/Default.aspx

[Q]

What display problems are you experiencing? I just got done loading it and turning the Vista features on.

The NVIDIA Vista x86 drivers seemed to work fine for me.

This was a helpful guide:

http://www.merawindows.com/Forums/tabid/324/forumid/-1/threadid/19674/scope/posts/Default.aspx


I'm running Aero, for the record.

The selection rectangle lags quite a bit on the desktop. More importantly, when the menu for Firefox's bookmarks pulls down, it doesn't render occasionally. It's just all black.

That's all the "obvious" stuff so far.

[Smitty]

I'm running Aero, for the record.

The selection rectangle lags quite a bit on the desktop. More importantly, when the menu for Firefox's bookmarks pulls down, it doesn't render occasionally. It's just all black.

That's all the "obvious" stuff so far.

Hmm, weird. I'm using a 7900GTX and the 169.28 betas. No sluggish selection rectangle.

I'm using Firefox 3 beta 2 and the bookmark menu always shows up.

[S.SubZero]

I'm in Server 2008 x64 right now on my laptop. I installed Firefox 2.0.11 x64 and it seems fine. I enabled the desktop experience, got Aero going (where's the mouse pointer theme for it tho?), and a rockin' 4948 in 3DMark2006. I have the 169.25 beta drivers for my 7950GTX Go, resizing some windows lags a bit for some reason but otherwise no problems.

I'm gonna tinker with Hyper-V, I have it set up but haven't created any VM's yet. It looks nifty.

[Q]

I rebooted a couple of times and don't have the desktop rendering issues. Hyper-V is laughable compared to VMWare, so far. That, and I'm having network dropping issues...

[hokeyplyr48]

what are the advantages to running a server OS for a regular desktop?

in basic terms, what's different? is it comparable to vista or is it completely different?

[S.SubZero]

Server 2008 is Vista, with the more desktop-like stuff ripped out and server components bolted on. The default install doesn't have Aero, or even the Vista theme. The "desktop experience" feature is available that adds these and other desktop-like things. Still, at the end you really just end up with a server Vista.

Task Manager reports similar numbers as when I had Vista running, so resource wise it's not much different. I am running Hyper-V which leaves some pieces running at all times.

Speaking of which, I installed XP64 as a guest, which works nice, except there's no network. MS wants to use these new virtualized interfaces (VMBus), and they include a 64-bit 2003 driver, which for some reason XP64 doesn't like. Hyper-V is certainly no VMWare, but for a free solution it beats Virtual PC 2005 at least (maybe not 2007). It does seem geared more towards enterprise use. A typical hobby VM tinkerer would be overwhelmed by it.