Windows Server 2008 R2 automatically launches Server Manager upon login through a registry setting. This behavior is intentional from Microsoft to help administrators quickly access server management tools, but can be unnecessary for automated or headless servers.

The simplest solution is to use Server Manager's own configuration:

1. Open Server Manager
2. Click "View" → "Configure Server Manager Startup"
3. Select "Do not start Server Manager automatically at logon"

For scripted deployment or when GUI access isn't available, modify the registry directly:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ServerManager]
"DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon"=dword:00000001

You can apply this via command line using:

reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ServerManager" /v DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

For domain environments, create a Group Policy Object (GPO):

1. Open Group Policy Management
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration → Preferences → Windows Settings → Registry
3. Add a new registry item with:
   - Action: Update
   - Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   - Key Path: SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ServerManager
   - Value name: DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon
   - Value type: REG_DWORD
   - Value data: 1

After making changes, verify by:

reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ServerManager" /v DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon

Expected output should show "0x1". If changes don't take effect, check for conflicting policies or permissions issues.

For automation scenarios, you might want to combine this with other login optimizations:

@echo off
:: Disable Server Manager auto-start
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ServerManager" /v DoNotOpenServerManagerAtLogon /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

:: Optional: Other startup optimizations
schtasks /change /tn "ServerManager" /disable

Many Windows Server 2008 R2 administrators find Server Manager launching automatically during login, which can be particularly annoying for headless servers or automated environments where GUI tools aren't needed. This behavior is by design, but fortunately, we can modify it through several methods.

The most reliable way to disable Server Manager auto-start is through Group Policy:

1. Press Win+R, type "gpedit.msc" and press Enter
2. Navigate to: 
   Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → System → Server Manager
3. Double-click "Do not display Server Manager automatically at logon"
4. Set it to "Enabled"
5. Click OK and close the Group Policy Editor

For environments without Group Policy access, you can modify the registry directly:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Server\ServerManager]
"DoNotOpenAtLogon"=dword:00000001

Save this as a .reg file and merge it, or apply through PowerShell:

Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Server\ServerManager" -Name "DoNotOpenAtLogon" -Value 1

For temporary solutions or testing environments, you can create a logoff script that removes the Server Manager startup entry:

reg delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\ServerManager" /v "DoNotOpenAtLogon" /f
reg add "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\ServerManager" /v "DoNotOpenAtLogon" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

After applying any of these methods, verify the changes by:

Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Server\ServerManager" -Name "DoNotOpenAtLogon"

Or check the Group Policy Result:

gpresult /h gpreport.html

For systems without Group Policy Editor installed, use the Local Security Policy console:

1. Open secpol.msc
2. Navigate to Local Policies → Security Options
3. Find "Interactive logon: Do not display Server Manager at logon"
4. Set it to "Enabled"