Configuring Server Core Hardware

Some things, such as screen resolution, are difficult to configure from Server Core. One of the few GUI tools provided is the Registry Editor, which means you can perform configurations; it's just a bit ugly. Normally, you are advised to use the Registry Editor only as a last resort, but for some things in Server Core it's your only option. Using the Registry Editor, navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\ Control\Video\<GUID of graphics card>\0000 key. Modify the DefaultSettings.XResolution and DefaultSettings. YResolution values to the desired values. Just make sure they are right.

If you want to modify screen saver values, for example, do it in the Registry as well. By default, the screen saver kicks in after 10 minutes and uses the logon screen saver (logon.scr), requiring a password when the screen saver is deactivated. To modify this, use the Registry Editor again and move to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop key.

The following values can be changed:

• ScreenSaveActive. 1 means screen saver is turned on, 0 disables.
• ScreenSaverIsSecure. 1 means password is required, 0 no password needed.
• ScreenSaveTimeOut. Time in seconds of inactivity before screensaver starts.
• SCRNSAVE.EXE. The name of the screen saver. Logon.scr or scrnsave.scr for the blank screen saver.

You can also specify a background wallpaper by creating a string value named WallPaper under the same key with the full name and path of the image to use as the background.

In terms of adding hardware, if you need to install drivers, you are not prompted to install a driver for new hardware as in a normal Windows Server installation. Instead you need to manually install the driver and then, depending on the hardware, reboot the server for the new driver to be used with the hardware. Copy the driver files to a location on the server and then run the following command to load the driver:

You can list all drivers on the system via the sc query type= driver command (note the space between type= and driver). When you have the service name of the driver, uninstall with the sc delete <service_name> command.