Can we restore My Computer > Manage to prior functionality in Server 2012-R2

Solution 1:

This registry snippet should alleviate all that, run it from Powershell (as admin) and when you right click This PC 'Manage' it will open compmgmt.msc directly. Works instantly.

Enable - Manage via CompMgmt.msc

Set-ItemProperty -Path 'registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Manage\command' -Name "(default)" -Value "mmc %SystemRoot%\system32\compmgmt.msc"
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Restore original setting - Manage via Server Manager.

Set-ItemProperty -Path 'registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\clsid\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Manage\command' -Name "(default)" -Value "%SystemRoot%\system32\CompMgmtLauncher.exe"
#

NOTE: One does not simply point to compmgmt.msc or it splashes a metro style half-screen error, cmd /c start /b method avoids it. Included a restore setting even though the OP didn't ask and probably won't use it.

Solution 2:

This is probably on top of my list of annoyances on Server 2012.

Thanks for the answer, but that didn't quite work for me. I had to modify it a little and change it to different key:

Set-ItemProperty -Path 'registry::HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Launcher.Computer\shell\Manage\command' -Name "(default)" -Value "mmc %SystemRoot%\system32\compmgmt.msc"

This key was locked down so I had to give ownership to local admins and then add full control perms.

Thanks for your solution. My life is a little easier now.