Is it possible to run Windows without GUI?

Solution 1:

Windows Server Core is a 'GUI-less' version of Windows:

Beginning with Windows Server 2008 Microsoft offered the option to install the operating system without large parts of the graphical user interface (GUI). This means when you logon to the server all you get is a command line prompt. There is no Windows Explorer, no start menu and no Internet Explorer among others. You want to set the IP address? Use the command line. Want to reboot? Use the command line. Want to . . . ? Well you get the idea.

For older and non-server versions you can edit the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>Windows NT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon and change the Shell value to cmd.exe instead of Explorer.exe.

Not exactly GUI-free options, but it eliminates Explorer and a lot of the visual 'niceties' that eat all your resources. :)

Solution 2:

As afrazier suggest, rather looking for convoluted work arounds, why not address the core problem? Sure, you can kill (and re-run) explorer.exe (as techie007 suggests), but tackling the cause of the instability sounds more prudent to me.

Windows 7, and the x64 variant in particular, is very stable. Clearly, you have something that is fundamentally upsetting the balance.

Personally, I'd check your hardware, in terms of comparability, but also for faults. Download the latest stable drivers. Then reinstall Windows 7 (preferably x64), install your updated drivers, and install the bare essentials in terms of software, then back it up.

Run it for a few days, if all is well, install a few more apps... but be careful what you install - most Windows stability issues related to poorly-coded drivers, but occasionally there are certain windows updates that cause problems.

Failing this, as an apparent *nix fan, why don't you consider Linux + Mono?