Windows Server 2008 R2 shows cmd with no desktop after login

Question

Hello Microsoft,

I installed Windows Server 2008 R2 in VMware and after I logged in I saw a blank blue screen with cmd open but no desktop. I tried typing explorer.exe but it could not recognize it. My version is Standard R2. So can you please tell me what to do. Thank You!

Answer 1

Hello @Windows 8.1

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Platform,

Could have been that you have installed the core version instead the full one?

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/server-core/what-is-server-core-2008#the-server-core-gui

If that's the case and you want to change to the full one you'll have to reinstall:

https://serverfault.com/questions/4945/install-gui-on-windows-server-2008-core

I hope this helps!

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Answer 2

There is a similar issue covered in my blog for Windows 2012 and it helped many people to resolve their issue. Check it and see if the following article is helpful
windows-server-2012-gui-missing-removing-features