(what is this box?)
Windows Server 2008 R2 machines allow only the localsystem\administrator account permission to burn a CD/DVD on the local machine. All other accounts are treated per the “remote desktop” security restrictions. Therefore, unless you are logged in as localsystem\administrator you won't even see a Burn CD/DVD tab.
To install the Desktop Experience pack:
The Desktop Experience pack includes: Windows Media Player Desktop themes Video for Windows (AVI support) Windows SideShow Windows Defender Disk Cleanup Sync Center Sound Recorder Character Map Snipping Tool
The Desktop Experience pack includes:
There are two command-line Microsoft tools you can download. However, installing and using these require local adminstrator privileges, once you do that, you can go ahead and use the built-in tools. They are:
Use a third-party tool.* Example: ImgBurn (http://www.imgburn.com/)
Use a USB flash drive instead. You can even boot and Install OS from USB Flash!
Change the security defaults (e.g. security restrictions for “remote desktop” users or treat locally looged users in a different way).
* (please add links to a couple of examples you have used successfully).
Richard Mueller edited Revision 13. Comment: Modified title, removed tags "WS08", "WS08R2", "WS2K8R2"
FZB edited Revision 9. Comment: typo
Clive Knowles edited Revision 7. Comment: Added Example of Third Party Software. Tested working on 2008 R2 Web
spottedmahn edited Revision 5. Comment: Changed UDB to USB under choice D
Ed Price MSFT edited Revision 4. Comment: Added "How to" template.
Tony Soper_MSFT edited Revision 3. Comment: Light edit for readability.
So how does one allow more than the administrator to burn CDs on 2K8 R2?
I installed the desktop experience on a Hyper-V guest Windows 2008 R2 server and could not burn a CD. Message is "Windows can't read the dies in drive D:\". Does this not work on Hyper-V guests?
The isoburn.exe tool presents already in windows 2008 r2 installation... For burning ISO image it's not necessary to download and install windows 2003 RKTools for using cdburn/dvdburn.exe.
Followed instructions in Choice A, on a vanilla install of 2008 r2 Web. "Windows can't read the disc in Drive D:\". Will post again if I can find the proper instructions.
Additionally to steps in Choice A, I had to run explorer.exe elevated. Careful! Because explorer.exe is also running in the background for the task bar and alike, simply launching a new instance of explorer.exe won't wont. Instead, start the Windows Task Manager. Open the start menu, and in the area right of the Loggoff button, hold ctrl+shift and click with right mouse button to open a hidden menu. Choose "Exit Explorer" in this hidden menu. Notice how the task bar goes away. Go back to Windows Task Manager, and check "Show processes from all users" under the Processes tab to ensure Task Manager itself elevates. Choose in the menu "File" and "New Task (Run...)". Check "Create this task with administrative privileges", and type explorer.exe then click OK. Notice how the task bar comes back. Careful! Now ALL of explorer.exe is running with admin privileges. This is necessary because explorer.exe lacks the capability to spawn an elevated process when it launches the burn operation.
Now you can burn, in particular you can burn .iso images to CD or DVD.
as always, Microsoft thinks it understand the user more than himself, if they say you don't need it then you don't need it. period.