Configure Windows Server Essentials Fails with Please Click Retry. If the Issue still exsists........

Question

I had a Windows 2003 SBS that i am migrating to a new Windows 2012 R2 Essentials machine.  I had to upgrade the Domain and Forrest from 2000 to 2003 to be able to add my new 2012 server to the existing domain.  Once it was replicated i demoted
the Server 2003 machine and removed the DNS role as well.  I then upgraded the Forrest and Domain to 2008 R2 and then to 2012 R2.
Now the fun begins.  I tried to then run the Essentials configuration wizard and it fails.  I have spent two days reading technotes so here is what i have done.  For some reasone the Managed Service Accounts container was not there.  (i
may deleted it during the AD clean up..there were a ton of unneeded containers and OUs).  So i followed:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/f9588fd5-0236-419d-b217-8c4de67732ae/deleted-managed-service-accounts-container?forum=winserverDS
Which i used ADSIEdit to remove some containers and set the AD Version to clear and rerean ADPrep /domainprep.  At this point the Managed Service Accounts container reapeared.  I removed the role of Windows Essentials Experience...rebooted and
installed the role again.  But the ServerAdmain and MediaAdmin$ accounts did not create.   So i created them using the following powershell:
import-module activedirectory
add-kdsrootkey -effectivetime ((get-date).addhours(-10))
New-AdServiceAccount -Name ServerAdmin -Path "CN=Managed Server Accounts,DC=[Domain],DC=local" -enabled $true -RestricttoSingleComputer
and i did the same for MediaServer.  And they show up in the container where they should be.  I then went to GPO Managment and change the Log on as Service and added the two accounts to the Domain Controller GPO.  (*note...interesting thing
here...before i create the domain managed service accounts i tried [domain]\ServerAdmin$ and if failed but when i tried ServerAdmin$ it added but it was not the domain account....so that was odd) .  I then did a gpupdate /force as well as a reboot for
good measusre.  When the Server came back up, i went the Local Policies and verified that the ServerAdmin$ and MediaAdmin$ were given Log in as Service on the Server.  Finally i ran the COnfigure Essentials Wizard and the DAMN thing failed again.....can
anyone please help me with this.  It is in a production environment due to the 2003 Server dying...so i can't just wipe it and start from scratch.
Thanks!!

Answer 1

Hi,
Glad to hear that you have solved this issue and thanks for sharing in the forum. Your time and efforts are highly appreciated.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help. If you have feedback for TechNet Support, contact [email protected]