« Sidebar working nicely on Windows Server 2008

Windows Server 2008 – the best Windows yet!

I ran Windows Server 2003 as my desktop from the time it came out until Vista shipped and now I’m on Windows Server 2008. And boy does it rock!

I won’t repeat the many blog posts that are out there that go over the steps needed to get Win2k8 running just like Vista (though I will refer you to my last blog post about getting sidebar working right). What I will tell you is that almost everything runs under Win2k8 with less RAM than under Vista. People will tell you all day that there is no difference between the Vista SP1 and Win2k8 binaries but there is a difference somewhere.

Actually I checked the ntoskrnl.exe binary from both Vista SP1 and Win2k8 and they are truly exactly the same. However, that doesn’t mean they run the same. The Vista kernel could have all sorts of compatibility shims that get loaded dynamically or checked at runtime. One piece of evidence that Win2k8 is different is the fact that a few programs don’t function correctly. The latest version of skype and microTorrent do not function (you can use an older version of Skype though).

What I know is that it *feels* tons faster. IE just appears instantly. Explorer windows open immediately. And the RAM usage just speaks for itself. The table below shows what the memory usage typically is on my system for

Application	Vista SP1	Windows Server 2008
Desktop Window Manager	40-50 meg	756k (yes, k!). Part of this is the fact that I have not yet been able to enalble taskbar video thumbnails.
Sidebar	25 meg	12 meg

This entry was posted by reggie on March 6, 2008 at 3:06 am, and is filed under Technology, Vista. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Comments (40)
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#1 written by shahed 3 years ago

hi
do you know how to get tv tuner support on server 2008. my tv tuner works fine on vista but not on server
thanks
#2 written by Pawel 3 years ago

If you disable Superfetch on Vista( and a few other services that do not run by default on Server 2008), you’ll get the same effect.
#3 written by seb 3 years ago

Get ubuntu, period.
#4 written by Tonci Grgin 3 years ago

Reggie.

You know I switched to latest&greatest too. Now, with taskbar video thumbnails enabled DWM still takes significantly less RAM, around 35MB on my "almost Vista look-alike" setup. Sidebar takes around 16MB.

Just my 2c.

Tonci
#5 written by Busby seo test 3 years ago

Hi, I’m Still use XP for my OS. thanks for share.
#6 written by Busby SEO Test Spammer! 3 years ago

beware of busby seo test spammer!
#7 written by Busby SEO Test - Chinese New Year 2009 3 years ago

Yeah i agree with Vista SP1 and Win2k8 and they are truly exactly the same. i been checking all update they are same with pattern,,,
#8 written by busby seo test case 3 years ago

yupp. i agree
#9 written by Christian Answers 3 years ago

Must try windows 2008 soon.
#10 written by Grace 2 years ago

The Windows Server 2008 will helps IT professionals to increase the flexibility and reliability of their server infrastructure while offering developers a more robust web and applications platform for building connected applications and services.
#11 written by Hip Hop Abs 2 years ago

Windows Server 2003 (also referred to as Win2K3) is a server operating system produced by Microsoft. Introduced on 24 April 2003 as the successor to Windows 2000 Server, it is considered by Microsoft to be the cornerstone of its Windows Server System line of business server products[citation needed]. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2 was released to manufacturing on 6 December 2005. Its successor, Windows Server 2008, was released on 4 February 2008.
#12 written by humidor for cigars 2 years ago

How can I install Windows Server 2003 on my server?
#13 written by Curt 2 years ago

I run a few 2k8 servers and must say that there are very few features that distinguish it from 2k3. For me, those are the new remote-apps terminal server feature and hyper-v. not a whole lot has changed other than rearranging a bunch of stuff.
#14 written by sterling silver jewelry 2 years ago

Hackers often gain access to servers through unused (not configured or secured) ports and services, such as Internet Information Services (IIS). To limit entry points, server hardening includes blocking unused ports and protocols as well as disabling services that are not required. Microsoft’s latest release of Windows Server 2008 may be on the streets, but the majority of organizations will still rely on Server 2003 for as long as Microsoft supports it. While Server 2003 may not be the latest and greatest, you can ensure a better security posture by taking some easy–but essential–steps to harden your system.
#15 written by pay blogroll 2 years ago

You said that it is the best window yet, why?
#16 written by Custom Research Paper 2 years ago

Next month marks the deadlines for support — in some cases, free support, in other cases, paid — for a handful of older Microsoft Windows and Office products.

Microsoft is ending mainstream (free) support for Windows XP Home and Professional, as well as for its Office 2003 suite, on April 14, 2009. It also is “retiring” Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1), meaning it will no longer provide support for that four-year-old release.

oft Windows and Office products.

Microsoft is ending mainstream (free) support for Wind
#17 written by Lose Weight Healthily 2 years ago

Windows Server 2003 comes in a number of editions, each targeted towards a particular size and type of business. In general, all variants of Windows Server 2003 have the ability to share files and printers, act as an application server, and host message queues, provide email services, authenticate users, act as an X.509 certificate server, provide LDAP directory services, serve streaming media, and to perform other server-oriented functions.
#18 written by Acai Berry 2 years ago

Vista really sucks. I hardly wait Windows 7
#19 written by kampanye damai pemilu indonesia 2009 2 years ago

windows server 2008 is the best
#20 written by fuck off 2 years ago

do you suck cock? I don’t see any minimum resource usage comparison between win2003 versus win2008.
#21 written by john 2 years ago

great operating system!
#22 written by Search Engine Optimization Service 2 years ago

No. No. For windows server 2008.
#23 written by Hayden Panettiere 2 years ago

Thanks
#24 written by Blisters 2 years ago

Great, I am really happy as I use this server a lot.
#25 written by Mortgage rates 2 years ago

Me too!
#26 written by Genetic diseases 2 years ago

this server is better than the others.
#27 written by Yeast infection treatment 2 years ago

yes indeed…i use it a lot!
#28 written by tukang nggame 2 years ago

I am still using xp, for the other versions so I have not familiar.
nice post thanks for it
#29 written by Pinoy Teen BigBrother 2 years ago

The fact was the post may in good situation and they make a lateral meaning of that post.thanks for sharing it to me..
#30 written by mark 2 years ago

Interesting post, this was really useful. thanks!
#31 written by replica Louis Vuitton handbags 2 years ago

that almost everything runs under Win2k8 with less RAM than under Vista. People will tell you all day that there is no difference between the Vista SP1 and Win2k8 binaries but there is a difference somewhere.
#32 written by Los Angeles DUI Attorney 2 years ago

This is great news! I’ve been meaning to update my server.
#33 written by Southern Highlands real estate 2 years ago

Using Server edition as your main desktop? I used it and had found some troubles. I have not moved to vista and I’ve sticked to XP and moved onto Linux.
#34 written by green valley nv homes 2 years ago

I agree, Windows Server 2008 is definitely fast and it’s a less resource hungry than 2003. Takes the most out of my server in an efficient manner.
#35 written by SEO 2 years ago

Good stuff.I enjoyed your comments,I believe what they are doing is great.Great job..
#36 written by Income protection 2 years ago

This new Windows Server boasts a set of networking enhancements that dramatically boost file serving performance, and the product can be deployed in a new, stripped-down Server Core configuration, which significantly reduces the attack surface of systems hosting certain Windows Server roles.
#37 written by Singapore Seo 2 years ago

Definitely the best.
#38 written by Adee Kaye 2 years ago

I don’t like your template but your posts are quite good so I will check back!
#39 written by sex movie 2 years ago

How to download movies with out attacking any virus to computer?
#40 written by asus laptops 2 years ago

How to control the number of users accessing a windows server system through rdesktop?
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