How to convert your Windows Server 2003... to a Workstation!

Enabling Hardware and DirectX Acceleration

Graphics Hardware Acceleration and DirectX are disabled by default on a Server configuration to ensure maximum stability and uptime. But for any reason you need to enable them to use DirectX enabled applications this section will guide you through on how you can do it.

Enabling Graphics Hardware Acceleration

Let's start with enabling the Hardware acceleration on our graphics card. Simply right click anywhere on your desktop and select Properties -> Settings tab -> Advanced -> and finally, the Troubleshoot tab.

Now move the Hardware acceleration slider across to Full

Click OK

You may experience a monitor black out for a few seconds, this is normal.

Enabling DirectX

We now want to enable the full capabilities of DirectX. To do this, go to Start -> Run -> and type dxdiag followed by enter. You will get a dialog box asking if you want to allow dxdiag to access the internet to check for valid WHQL certificates - click on Yes.

Let's click on the Display tab, now click on all three boxes to enable DirectDraw, Direct3D and AGP Texture Acceleration.

You guessed right, that's all you needed to do! You can now install your Win2K/XP drivers for your Graphics card and enjoy the full DirectX experience. (Later on in this guide, we will be installing DirectX 9.0a)

But hang on, we want sound as well! Let's move on to the next section to find out how!

Page 7 - Sound Acceleration