Enabling sound on Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition

Preface:

Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition comes with sound disabled.  Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition comes with sound enabled.  If sound doesn't work for you in Standard edition then check the drivers, etc.  Once again, sound being disabled is not a problem for Standard users :-)

Method:

Click Start, Administrative Tools, then Services

Scroll down to Windows Audio, and double click it, set start-up to Automatic, click Apply, click OK, then click Start

Not Requiring Ctrl-ALT-DEL at logon

Preface:

As a security feature of Windows NT based operating systems (NT 4, Windows 2000, Windows XP as a domain member or under certain settings and Windows Server 2003) you are required to press Ctrl-ALT-DEL before being prompted for a user name and password at log-in.  Personally I like the feature but some people do not, so I'll show you how to disable it :o)  Please note:  This will not auto-login for you, it will only disable the C-A-D prompt and jump right to the login screen.

Method:

Click Start then Run..

In the Run box type "gpedit.msc"

Under Computer Configuration Click the + next to Windows Settings, then Security Settings, Local Policies then click on Security options

Double click Interactive Logon: Do not require CTRL+ALT+DEL and set it to Enabled, then press OK

Disabling the Shut Down Tracker

Preface:

The shut down tracker is used to...well...track the reasons a computer is going for shut down.  As a server, a computer should not be shut down or rebooted manually very often, which is why this feature is in place.  Some people, however, find it irritating so it can be disabled if you'd like.

Method:

Click Start then Run..

In the Run box type "gpedit.msc"

Click the + sign next to Administrative Templates (the one in Computer Configuration under Local Computer Policy) then click System

Double click Display Shutdown Event Tracker (highlighted above) and select the Disabled radio button and press OK

Enabling DirectX and Graphics Acceleration on Windows Server 2003

Preface:

You should NOT enable DirectX and Graphic Acceleration on this OS.  It is a server, and is meant to be used as one.

Method:

Right-click on your desktop and select Properties

Go to the Settings tab and click Advanced

Go to the Troubleshoot tab and move the slider to Full

Press OK and OK.

Now go to Start->Run... and type dxdiag, after a little wait the progress indicator should disappear.  Now go to the Display tab and make sure the 3 DirectX features are Enabled

You've just enabled DirectX and Graphics Acceleration

Enabling the Luna (Windows XP) theme on Windows Server 2003

Preface:

Enabling themes is an unsupported and not recommended thing to do in Windows Server 2003 and CAN CAUSE INSTABILITY!!

The method:

First, click Start, highlight Administrative Tools, then click Services.  (Also, remember how this Start Menu looks because it will be the last time you see it like this unless you go back to the Windows Standard theme :-)

 

Scroll down to "Themes" and double-click it, set the start-up type to Automatic, Apply, and then Click "Start" (Start will only become enabled after you set the Start-up to Automatic and !click Apply! [or manual, but you don't want that]) And press OK to leave the window

Now right-click your desktop, and click Properties

Under theme click Windows XP, then click Apply, and congratulations, you've enabled Luna

You may also want to refer to the Direct X how-to page for instructions on speeding up graphics, etc

Disabling Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration on Windows Server 2008

Looking for the Windows Server 2003 version of this tutorial? Click here.

Preface:

Windows Server 2003 and, subsequently, Windows Server 2008 shipped with security locked down by default.  Part of this locking down is Internet Explorer Enhanced Security, which is an extra layer of protection when surfing the internet using Internet Explorer (more information can be found by going here on a Windows Server 2008 [test] machine).  Some people want to diable it.  That's OK, Microsoft allows that, and that's what this tutorial will show you how to do. As we will soon see, we have the option to disable the Enhanced Security Configuration (ESC) for Administrators, Users, or both. In this tutorial, we will be disabling it for both types of user.

Method:

Click Start, move your cursor over Administrative Tools, and click Server Manager

Now, under "Security Information" on the main Server Manager pane, click Configure IE ESC

The Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration will open, allowing you to choose whether to have it enabled for Administrator and/or User groups. Because in this tutorial we are disabling the configuration for all users, we set both radio buttons to "Off", and press "OK".

And that's all! From the next time Internet Explorer is loaded, IE ESC will not be enabled.

Questions:

Q: How do I know if it is enabled?

A: Upon loading Internet Explorer, the home page will tell you:

Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration is enabled

Q: How do I know if it's disabled?

A: When you load up Internet Explorer Internet Explorer will tell you:

Caution: Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration is not enabled

Disabling Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration

Looking for the Windows Server 2008 version of this tutorial? Click here.

Preface:

Windows Server 2003 shipped with security locked down by default.  Part of this locking down is Internet Explorer Enhanced Security which is an extra layer of protection when surfing the internet using Internet Explorer (more information can be found by going here on a Windows Server 2003 [test] machine).  Some people want to uninstall it.  That's OK, Microsoft allows that, and that's what this will show you how to do.
Before we start, understand the way the uninstaller works.  You can uninstall the entire Configuration, or just for users, or just for Administrators.  The un-installer is set up like this:

Enhanced Security
->For Administrators
->For Users

If you have just random users connecting via Remote Desktop or Terminal Services, you may want to leave the Users configuration installed.  This tutorial will be removing all of it.

Method:

Click Start, put your mouse over Control Panel, and click Add/Remove Programs

Now click Add/Remove Windows Components

After a few seconds a window will pop-up.  Click the check mark next to Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration (to make it unchecked).  If you'd like to only disable it for Administrators or only for Users you can click Details and do so.

Press Next, let it finish, and it's complete!

Questions:

Q: How do I know if it is enabled?

A: When you open Internet Explorer up you will see this dialog

Q: How do I know if it's disabled?

A: When you load up Internet Explorer Internet Explorer will tell you:

Caution: Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration is not enabled