We have to use PowerShell for this purpose. To start PowerShell from Command Prompt, just type PowerShell. PowerShell should run with administrator privileges.
- To know the PowerShell Execution Policy with the following code — Get-ExecutionPolicy
- to start with unrestricted privileges — Set-ExecutionPolicy –ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
- if you are accessing server from remote computer — Set-ExecutionPolicy –Force RemoteSigned
Steps to Convert Server Core to a Server with a GUI
Server 2012 DVD or Server2012.iso image which can be mounted with various image mounting tools like UltraISO. And then just copy the install.wim to your hard disk and point your source:
- first determine the index number for a Server with a GUI image that you would like to use for conversion. — Get-WindowsImage -ImagePath <path to wim>install.wim
- to convert Server Core Installation into Full Server installation "<path>" is the path to your install.wim "<index>" is the Index number that you got from Step no. 1 — Install-WindowsFeature Server-GUI-Mgmt-Infra,Server-GUI-Shell –Restart –Source wim:<path>:<index>
- convert your Core Installation into "Minimal Server Interface, which contains " Microsoft Management Console (MMC), Server Manager, and a subset of Control Panel. — Install-WindowsFeature Server-GUI-Mgmt-Infra -Restart –Source wim:<path>:<index>
Steps to Convert from a Server GUI Full Installation to a Server Core
- to Convert Server GUI to Server Minimal Interface. You can later revert to a Server with a GUI installation without specifying a source. This is because the necessary files remain stored on the disk — Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell –Restart
- if you want to recover disk space and you want to reduce the size of the server installation — Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell –Remove –Restart
- to convert your Full Server with GUI Installation into Server Core installation — Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-GUI-Mgmt-Infra,Server-Gui-Shell –Restart