With PowerShell becoming one of the most important tools in a Windows administrator’s tool bag as well as really becoming the best prompt to use on Windows Server Core, I thought it was about time I documented how to change the command prompt that opens when you log into Server Core with a PowerShell prompt.
To complete this requires two steps:
- Enable/Install PowerShell on the Windows 2008 R2 Server Core computer
- Update the HKLMSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionWinLogonShell registry key replacing cmd.exe with PowerShell.exe
To enable PowerShell run SCONFIG from the command prompt and then select menu options 4 then 2. This will require the computer to be rebooted
Once rebooted login and in the CMD prompt type PowerShell. At the PowerShell prompt type:
SET-ITEMPROPERTY "HKLM: SOFTWAREMICROSOFTWINDOWS NTCURRENTVERSIONWINLOGON" SHELL POWERSHELL.EXE
Having completed above log off and back on and a powershell prompt will open instead.
~Pouyan