Anyone using Server 2008 on m15x?

OK, the title says it all. Has anyone here installed Windows Server 2008 and the workstation mod on an m15x? Any driver issues/software issues with Alienware applications?

Thanks.

 

Findvikas had it running on there, wait for him to get on here, he will be able to tell you

 

I had it running for a long time. The 64bit patches findvikas had worked at that time (can't comment on the 64bit stuff that alienware released), but drivers and everything was perfect and the OS was fast. The only bad thing was that GTA IV simply refuses to run in server 2008 . Otherwise all the other games I had (TF2,GRID,etc.) ran great.

 

server 2008 is a great workstation OS. much stabler than vista and peppier too, but that is obviously subjective. I use it on my desktop at work.

 

stabler? *"more stable"*
/grammar&spelling police

anyways, Vista and Server 2008 are DESIGNED for their specific purposes. Vista has stuff you won't see on server '08, and vice-versa. why would you need multiple users to be simoutaneously logged on? with Vista, XP and 2000, one user per computer active at any given time... server versions, with RDC and terminal services, you can have 3 people using one system (without a terminal services licence)... why would you need that in a desktop environment?

is the server version more stable? maybe, but probably not notably. I don't think I've ever seen Vista bluescreen under normal operation. yeah, I've done it, while messing with drivers... sure... but even server '08 would crash under those circumstances.

bottom line for me: Server '08 costs more, has more services you won't need and don't want, boots slower and generally does not offer any improvement over Vista for user experience.

and that's my $.02

 

True, Server costs more at retail. But I purchased the m15x before 64 bit was an option. So now I would have to buy a new copy of Vista to get 64 bit (no, I don't have access to anyone with a 64 bit disc), but I have a valid license for Server through the the Dreamspark site. So it's either buy Vista again because Microsoft and Alienware refuse to allow people to get legitimate install media without paying again (and Roswell guys, if you're listening, AW needs to change this--no excuses, it's just wrong) or go with Server 2008. I find it ironic that I can legally download a full version of Server (at least four different versions at that), but Vista is locked away like the Holy Grail.

As for Server having features I don't need, Vista is also full of "features" I don't want/need, but I can't prevent from installing and can't remove. I won't use 75% of Server. But I won't use 75% of Vista either. Media Center? Internet Explorer? Windows Messenger? Windows games? Movie Maker? All garbage, but I'm stuck with it. Sure, you can "remove Windows features" but that just takes away links. The bloat is still there. So Vista is "designed" for it's uses, I just don't use most of what it was designed for.

 

Here is what I have to say, I am not running Server 2008.. true Napbree but not 100% true . I am running Win7 Enterprise Server that is Server 2008 R2 which is still in beta.

KimoT, if you want to use a new OS and don't want to pay for it and still have better performance than Vista. ohh and still being windows? Go for Win7 Ultimate x64 Beta download. Download this best Client OS ever released by MS and more to come in stable release when it hit the RTM.

I would personally wait for Win7 to go public before buying any new OS and run Beta till then which is as solid as a RTM OS. The reason I have Win7 Server running is Hyper-V. I have 8 VPC running on my m15x and being HyperV capable machine why would not I run it and benefit from hardware level virtualization support? You can turn Server into full workstation by tweaking it... disable few services that a standalone server would not require, enable few services to allow bluetooth, wireless, audio & desktop experience. I prefer keeping the desktop experience turned off to save a lot on memory consumption when running VPCs.

 

The problem with Win 7 is that it's a beta. I have a license for Server that will not expire, so I may as well use it now to get the full memory/performance from the m15x. If I'm going to pay for another Microsoft OS, I will wait for Windows 7 to hit retail. This is for my wife's laptop, and she is not nearly as fond of OS reinstalls as I am, so I want to have one that will work until 7 is ready. If the beta expires before the retail version is out, then I would have to reinstall either 32 bit Vista or Server 2008, so I may as well go with Server now.