Converting Windows Server 2012 from Gui to Core and Core to Gui

Convert Windows Server Full Gui to Server Core

Method1: Get ready to convert Server Gui to Server Core using Windows PowerShell. In order to do this, log in to Windows Server 2012 , open Powershell as a Administrator and type the below Command

Uninstall-WindowsFeature  Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell -Restart
or
Get-WindowsFeature  *gui* | Remove-WindowsFeature -Restart

all commands are not a case-sensitive

Method2 : To get started launch Server Manager.Then Click on Manage, and then select Remove Roles or Features from the menu.

Since the GUI is not a Role, we can just click next again to skip past the Roles section.

When you reach the Features page, you need to uncheck the box next to the “User Interfaces and Infrastructure” option, and then click next.

Now tick the “Restart Destination Server” box, then click remove,The GUI will now be removed.

Once it comes back up, and you log in, you will only be able to use the command line.

• Convert Windows Server Core to Gui

Method1:Get ready to convert Server Core to Full Gui using Windows PowerShell. In order to do this, log in to Server core with an administrator account and open the PowerShell through opened command prompt.

To open PowerShell type “start PowerShell” on command prompt and press Enter. The PowerShell will open in a new window. See the screenshot.

Once PowerShell is loaded with administrative privilege, you will need to reinstall the Windows features associated with Server GUI. Enter the following command, and press Enter to process the command.

Get-WindowsFeature  *gui* | Install-WindowsFeature -Restart

Method2:

Type the command “Install-WindowsFeature -Name Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra, Server-Gui-Shell –Source:E:\sources\install.wim” to install the GUI on Server core.

The “E:” is the DVD ROM of my computer and the Windows Server 2012 R2 is already in.

OK, when the installing features have finished successfully, restart the server core using “Shutdown -r -t 0” command.

or type sconfig in cmd and choose option shutdown