Restart OS X GUI

I need to restart the WindowServer (OS X's GUI); I know this can be achieved using the command sudo killall -HUP WindowServer but this closes all your open applications. Is there a way to restart the WindowsServer without it quitting all your open applications?

Solution 1:

You can also try:

killall -KILL Dock

Solution 2:

The WindowServer is responsible for drawing all Windows and Windows Content for all Programs (incl. Finder), so it would not be possible to kill the Process without killing all Applications.

You can read about the Window Server in the Apple Technical Note TN2083 for OSX 10.5.

Even though it is announced in that Document that Apple plans to change the Behaviour in future Systemversions, it's in your list of required OS's.