How do I run a command in Windows Server 2012?
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Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. Common Management Tasks and Navigation in Windows
In this articleApplies To: Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server® 2012 R2, Windows® 8.1, Windows Server® 2012, and Windows® 8 feature the new Modern user interface. This topic helps you find and open common management tools, create shortcuts to frequently-used programs, run programs with elevated user rights, and perform common tasks like signing in and out, restarting, and shutting down computers that are running Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, or Windows 8. Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview and Windows 10 include updates to the Modern user interface, such as the restoration of a Start menu that includes tool and app folders. You can install Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2012 with a minimal user interface that is well-suited to remote management. For more information, see Windows Server Installation Options. In this topic:
Open the Start menuIn Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview and Windows 10, click the Start button to open the Start menu. Open the Start screenThe Start screen is the home of Windows apps. To open the Start screen, use one of these methods:
Shut down or restart the computerTo shut down the computer in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To shut down the computer in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
To restart the computer in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To restart the computer in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
Lock the computer or sign outTo lock the computer in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To lock the computer in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
To sign out from the computer in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To sign out from the computer in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
Close a Windows appWhen Windows apps like Internet Explorer are open but not in use, they are automatically minimized and become inactive, freeing resources for other apps. This functionality is similar to a cell phone, tablet PC, or other mobile computer. It is not necessary to close an app, but you can follow steps in this section if you want to do so. To close a Windows app in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To close a Windows app in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
Access Settings for the current screenTo open the Settings bar
Access Control PanelYou can access Control Panel from the Start screen or Start menu, and from the desktop. To open Control Panel from the Start menu in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To open Control Panel from the Start screen in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
To open Control Panel from the desktop in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To open Control Panel from the desktop in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
To open common Control Panel tools by using typed commands
To add Control Panel to the desktop
The Administrative Tools folder contains links to many common Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-ins, including Computer Management, Event Viewer, and the management tools for installed roles or features. Tip The Start screen settings (accessed by pressing the Windows logo key+i on the Start screen) include an option to allow or prevent tools in the Administrative Tools folder from being displayed in search results and on the Start screen. This setting is enabled by default. To access Administrative Tools in Server Manager
To open the Administrative Tools folder from the Start menu in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To open the Administrative Tools folder from the Start screen in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
Tip If the Show Administrative tools setting is turned off, the Administrative Tools folder and its contents will not appear in the Settings results. The Show Administrative tools setting is available when you hover the mouse cursor over the upper or lower right edge of the Start screen, click Settings, and then click Tiles. To open the Administrative Tools folder from the Control Panel
Create shortcutsTo create a shortcut on the desktop
To pin a program to the desktop taskbar from the Start menu in Windows Server Technical Preview or Windows 10 Technical Preview
To pin a program to the desktop taskbar from the Start screen in Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
To pin a program to the desktop taskbar from File Explorer
To pin a program or folder to the Start screen
Open the Run dialog boxTo open the Run dialog box
Run a program as administrator or as another userTo run a program as administrator from the Start screen or Start menu
To run a program as administrator from the desktop
To run a program as another user
Open Server ManagerBy default, Server Manager starts when a member of the Administrators group signs in to a computer that is running Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012. If Server Manager is not already open, if you are a standard (non-Administrator) user on the server, or if administrators have changed Server Manager default settings so that it does not open automatically at sign-in, open Server Manager by using procedures in this section. To open Server Manager from the Start screen
Note If the Show Administrative tools setting is disabled, the Server Manager tile does not appear on the Start screen. To open Server Manager from the desktop
Start Windows PowerShellTo start Windows PowerShell™ from the Start screen
To start Windows PowerShell from the desktop
To start Windows PowerShell with elevated user rights (Run as administrator)
Open Remote Desktop ConnectionTo open Remote Desktop Connection from the Start screen
To open Remote Desktop Connection from the desktop
Open Command PromptTo open Command Prompt from the Start screen
To open Command Prompt from the desktop
To open Command Prompt with elevated user rights (Run as administrator)
Open Microsoft Management Console (MMC) and snap-insTo open MMC from the Start screen
To open MMC from the desktop
To open an MMC snap-in from the Start screen
To open an MMC snap-in from the desktop
To open Event Viewer
Tip Alternatively, you can open a technology-specific snap-in from the Administrative Tools folder. For information about how to access the Administrative Tools folder, see Access Administrative Tools in this topic. Keyboard shortcutsThis section provides keyboard shortcuts that are unchanged from Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, and a table of shortcuts that are new for the Modern user interface in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. Keyboard shortcuts that are unchanged from Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
Keyboard shortcuts that are new for Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows 8
Use keyboard shortcuts in a Remote Desktop sessionBefore you connect to a Remote Desktop (also known as RDP) session, you can configure the session to accept Windows key combinations, whether the session is contained within a window, or occupies the full screen. To apply keyboard shortcuts to a Remote Desktop session
Use keyboard shortcuts in Hyper-V virtual machinesBefore you start a virtual machine connection, you can apply Windows key combinations to virtual machine connections on a physical host computer by editing the Hyper-V settings for the physical computer in the Hyper-V Manager console. Note The setting in this procedure is selected by default if the Hyper-V host computer is running Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2012. If the host computer is running Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008, you must change the setting to apply Windows key combinations to virtual machine connections. To apply keyboard shortcuts to new virtual machine connections
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