Using Windows Server 2008 as a workstation OS

Windows Server 2008 is the Fastest OS i have worked on till today..

Below are tips on how you can use your Windows server 2008 as Workstation

1. Enable Hardware Virtualization
Even if your machine's hardware supports virtualization it is most likely not going to be enabled by default. You have to enable it via your BIOS setup.

2. Install the latest Graphics and Audio drivers
Being a server OS Windows 2008 carries with it basic graphics and audio drivers. To utilize the full strength of your hardware ensure you install the latest drivers for both graphics and audio hardware. Only with the proper graphics drivers will you be able to enable the "Aero" experience on Windows 2008.

3. Desktop Experience Feature

The Desktop Experience Feature enables a bunch of stuff that is by default present on a desktop OS. Most importantly it includes Themes, Windows Media player and the Aero related features. You will have to enable it form the Server Manager.
The "Turn Windows features on or off" / "Add remove windows components" has all been rolled into the Server Manager now.
you can find server manager on top of menu
Go to Server Manager > Features > Add Features >Desktop Experience

Installing the Desktop Experience feature does not enable them. You have to manually set them up.

4. Themes
To enable Themes you will basically have to enable the Themes Service. Again being a server OS it is not enabled by default.
type in run menu Services.msc and search for service Themes and enable it
Set the start up type to Automatic
For Enabling the Aero Theme>
For this go to Control Panel > Personalization >Theme and select Windows Aero

5. Search
Search is also disabled by default on Windows 2008. To enable search you will have to add the File Services Role via Server Manager.
Server Manager > Roles > File Services > Windows Search
Outlook relies on this search service.

6. Disable Shutdown Event Tracker
The Shutdown Event Tracker is the pop up that you get asking you for a shutdown reason. To disable it
type gpedit.msc in run menu

Under Computer configuration> Administrative Templates >System
Set Display Shutdown Event Tracer to Disabled

7. Audio
For audio you need to enable the Windows Audio service. You do this by setting the startup type to Automatic.
Services.msc > Windows Audio
Ensure you have proper drivers for your audio hardware...

8. SuperFetch
As a workstation, enabling SupertFetch will give you that additional bit of responsiveness. The SuperFetch services is disabled by default and when you try to enable it you will most likely get an error message "The operating system is not presently configured to run this application"
You will have to make two registry changes to enable this service.

Open up registry editor and go to>

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters

Create New DWORD EnablePrefetcher and set its value to 3
Create New DWORD EnableSuperfetch and set its value to 3

9. Get a codec pack.
For media hungry buffs download a codec pack. This will ensure you can play all media files.

10. Enable Hyper-V
With Hyper-V you can run virtual machines on your workstation. This is useful if you want to run your tests on older OS versions. Enabling Hyper-V is easy
Server Manager > Roles > Hyper-V
Remember you need a Hyper-V enabled Windows 2008 licence and also your hardware has to support virtualization.
Also If you are using an existing VHD it may ask you to re-Activate Windows as it detected hardware changes.
One good thing about Windows Server 2008 is that it no longer asks for the i386 folder like Windows 2003 while you enable features.

11.Disable Default Administartor Account
By default Windows 2008 has only Administrator Account and this account has User Account control(UAC) kinda turned off there by allowing any appications to execute directly without any restrictions hence its recommended you create another account with administrative previlages and you can disable default administrator account by running command prompt as administartor or in elevated mode (just type cmd in start search and then press CTRL SHIFT ENTER together)
now type net user administrator /active:no

12.Setting Processor Scheduling
CLick On Start->Control Panel ->System ->Advanced system settings-> Advanced -> Performance -> Settings->Advanced->Adjust best performance->And Tick On Programs

Few of the tips above have been copied/Modifed from

http://blogs.msdn.com/vijaysk/archive/2008/02/11/using-windows-server-2008-as-a-super-desktop-os.aspx