What is the Windows Server with Desktop Experience?

Not all Windows Server installers are created equal! Even each .iso image you download appears to have a specific mission in mind.

You may be able to get a key from certain sellers online for as low as $15 but don’t expect to have anyone walk you through anything. There may be some trial/error to get you to the destination you want to be.

Unlike some previous releases of Windows Server, you cannot convert between Server Core and Server with Desktop Experience after installation. If you install Server with Desktop Experience and later decide to use Server Core, you should do a fresh installation. See https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/getting-started-with-server-with-desktop-experience

Depending on how much time you have to spend on all of this, pay attention to the Windows installer screens and look for the terms GUI and Desktop Experience. You may find that the .iso you have doesn’t have a GUI and you may need to go fishing for a different one.

Want to try all of this out? Great but don’t assume you can plug in a key and keep going either. Attempts to upgrade these downloads to full versions have not been fruitful.

This comparison chart may be useful too but it doesn’t say which .iso is which unfortunately :/

Why do I care? I’m still on a quest to set up a network test bed to then install VMware Horizon on top of to deploy virtual desktops.

Good luck!