How to install Windows Server 2012

As you know Microsoft recently launched it’s another version of Windows Server, which is more powerful and user-friendly than the old Server 2008 and 2003. The new Windows 2012 server has the same UI as that of Windows 8, and if you have used Windows Server 2003 or Server 2008, Windows Server 2012 will just make you more happy. Windows Server 2012 comes with a free 180 day evaluation, which you can download from here.
Note: If you’re installing server in Virtual Box or VMware, please enable PAE/NX and keep at least 1GB of RAM and more than 20GB of hard-disk space for the server to work smoothly.

So let’s not waste any time and see how to install Windows Server 2012. As it is another Microsoft product, its installation is very easy. The GUI and ‘next next’ trick works here. You just have to take care of one step else you’ll mess up your server before actually using it. We will talk about it when we reach there.

1. Select the language to install.
   
   

   Select Language.

   
   

2. Click on ‘Install now’
   
   

   Click on Install now

    

    

3. This is the crucial step.
   If you just blindly click ‘Next’ here, Windows will install ‘Server Core’ which is basically command prompt version. So after installation all you will have is a black and white screen.
   Select Server with GUI option, and then click Next.
   
   

   Select Server with GUI

    

    

4. Accept the license.
   
   

   Accept license.

   
   

5. Click on ‘Custom Install Windows only’.
   
   

   Select Custom

   
   

6. Select the hard-disk.
   
   

   Select your hard-disk

   
   

7. Wait for the installation to finish.
   
   

   Installation Process

   
   

8. Reboot after the installation.
   
   

   Reboot

    

    

9. Enter a password.
   Now the important thing here is, since it is a Server edition it won’t take passwords like ‘yourname123’ or ‘qwerty’ or ‘12345’. You need to enter a strong password, only then it will go ahead.
   

   Enter password.

   

   Enter a strong password.

    

10. If you’re using Windows Server for the first time, this is the login screen.
    In every edition of Windows Server, you need to press ‘Ctrl+alt+del’ and then the login screen will occur,
    

    Login screen

     

11. Enter the password.
    
    

    Enter your password.

     

     

12. Windows Desktop.
    
    

    Windows Server Desktop

     

     

13. Windows Server Manager.
    This is your workplace. Where you’ll manage your servers and configure them.
    

    Server manager