How do I install the Desktop Experience feature on Windows Server 2008/R2?

Thinstuff Support
2025-04-23

If you want to use TSX Scan on a server operating system you have to install the Desktop-Experience-Feature.

Why Desktop Expierence ?
The Windows Server Desktop Experience feature is an optional component that adds a traditional Windows desktop environment to a Windows Server installation. 
This allows a more user-friendly experience, including a desktop, taskbar, Start menu, and support for running desktop applications, which are not included in the Server Core installation,

You will find more informations about the Desktop Experience feature here.

To install the Desktop Experience please do the following  :

Windows 2016 / 2019/2022 - short overview of required steps:

  1. Log in as an administrator.
  2. Start Server Manager.
  3. Select Add roles and features.
  4. On the Select Installation Type page, select Role-based or feature-based installation.
  5. On the Select Destination Server page, select a server.
  6. On the Select Server Roles page, accept the default selection and click Next.
  7. On the Select Features page, under User Interfaces and Infrastructure, select Desktop Experience.
  8. Follow the prompts and finish the installation.

Tags: Desktop Experience, does not work, install Desktop Experience, operating system, Server, server os, TSX Scan