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Basically, I plan to install Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 on a machine by plugging in the video card initially and then I plan to remove it completely because I need the slot for something else. The motherboard has no integrated graphics. Would I be able to RDP once I remove the video card even though the motherboard has no integrated graphics?
eek
Posted 2012-09-10T16:19:48.440
Reputation: 381
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As long as the system is turned on and connected to the network, configured properly, etc. then yes, you can. This is how server administrators access "headless" servers
One note though: many BIOSes refuse to boot without graphics. Check your BIOS first, or else you may be head-banging the keyboard. If you have a PC SPEAKER connected to the motherboard (not a speaker system), then it should sound 1 beep if all is well
Canadian Luke
Posted 2012-09-10T16:19:48.440
Reputation: 22 162
But don't most headless servers still have integrated graphics of some sort? – eek – 2012-09-10T16:32:47.733
I've worked on many that either have Integrated, or they need a PCIe video card. But yes, many do still have IGX – Canadian Luke – 2012-09-10T16:40:24.387
But if my motherboard doesn't have integrated graphics, and let's just assume it doesn't crap out during startup, would it theoretically be possible to remote in? – eek – 2012-09-10T17:00:58.067
Absolutely. That's what I do with my server at home... Used an AGP graphics card to set it up, then took it out and told the BIOS to continue on any errors instead of stopping. I wait about 1 minute before I can remote to it, then I have Windows 7 at my fingertips (I'm a Mac user) – Canadian Luke – 2012-09-10T17:20:07.947
How is the GUI responsiveness without any graphics chipset? Smooth? Slow? – eek – 2012-09-10T17:35:54.877
I do basic stuff with my server (file sharing, stream serving, print serving, PHP/Apache/MySQL and VPN serving). I do VERY basic browsing with it, otherwise it's mostly left alone. It does good for what I need – Canadian Luke – 2012-09-10T18:05:04.587
related (but not duplicate) question: "How to boot computer without any video card"
– David Cary – 2014-04-28T16:50:13.550related (but not duplicate) question: "Boot Windows Server 2003 without graphic card?"
– David Cary – 2014-04-28T17:15:19.030related (but not duplicate) question: "Install Windows without a graphic card"
– David Cary – 2014-04-28T17:28:30.493