How To Enable Aero On Longhorn Server

Friday, 05 January 2007 by Michel Roth

If you find that you miss some of the Windows Vista look and feel then you could read the following article to get some of the Windows Vista look and feel onto your Longhorn Server. Note that you (as of yet) can not get the full package: for example, the 3D Windows+Tab and the thumbnail of active Windows on the taskbar don't work.

"Using the "Add Features Wizard" add "Desktop Experience" then expand ".Net Framework 3.0" and add ".Net 3.0 framework" and the "XPS viewer". Click Next and add the features. Adding these features will get you many of the Windows Vista features that aren't in the base install such as Windows Media Player, themes, Photo gallery, etc. The .Net Framework, well it gets you the .Net framework of course. After you add these you will need to reboot. After the

Once you have logged back in after the reboot launch Server Manger and browse to Diagnostics | Services locate the "Themes" service. Change the value from "Disabled" to "Automatic" and start the service. You should now be able to right click on the Desktop select "Personalize" and set the theme to Windows Vista. Wohoo, Aero goodness! Set the wallpaper and you should end up looking a lot like the picture below."

Read the entire article here.