Exchange 2010 failing to upgrade to SP1, SP2, or SP3

Question

My host server is running Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard. Currently Exchange 2010 is without any service pack. I initially tried to upgrade to SP1 but that failed with the message below. Thinking that I could perhaps skip to SP2 or even SP3 I attempt that
upgrade and received a similar message though not posted here. The Schema for our domain shows that it is at the Windows Server 2008 R2 level. I am attempting to apply the update using the Enterprise/Schema admin account for our network.
Here is the error message that I receive. This happens after all prereq checks are done and the installation has actually started.
Summary: 15 item(s). 0 succeeded, 1 failed.
Elapsed time: 00:00:04
Organization Preparation
Failed
Error:
The following error was generated when "$error.Clear();
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Set the default Accepted domain from the default recipient policy";
$defaultEmailAddressPolicy = get-EmailAddressPolicy -Identity:"Default Policy";
$defaultSmtpTemplate = $defaultEmailAddressPolicy.EnabledPrimarySMTPAddressTemplate;
$index = $defaultSmtpTemplate.IndexOf("@");
$eapAuthoritativeDomain = $defaultSmtpTemplate.Substring($index+1);
$defaultDomain = get-accepteddomain | where {$_.DomainName -eq $eapAuthoritativeDomain };
$defaultDomain | set-accepteddomain -MakeDefault:$true;
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Default domain $defaultDomain";
" was run: "The operation couldn't be performed because object 'Default Policy' couldn't be found on 'marvin.intercity.org'.".
The operation couldn't be performed because object 'Default Policy' couldn't be found on 'marvin.intercity.org'.
Click here for help... http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ms.exch.err.default(EXCHG.141).aspx?v=14.1.218.11&e=m...
Error:
The following error was generated when "$error.Clear();
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Set the default Accepted domain from the default recipient policy";
$defaultEmailAddressPolicy = get-EmailAddressPolicy -Identity:"Default Policy";
$defaultSmtpTemplate = $defaultEmailAddressPolicy.EnabledPrimarySMTPAddressTemplate;
$index = $defaultSmtpTemplate.IndexOf("@");
$eapAuthoritativeDomain = $defaultSmtpTemplate.Substring($index+1);
$defaultDomain = get-accepteddomain | where {$_.DomainName -eq $eapAuthoritativeDomain };
$defaultDomain | set-accepteddomain -MakeDefault:$true;
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Default domain $defaultDomain";
" was run: "You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.".
You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
Click here for help... http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ms.exch.err.default(EXCHG.141).aspx?v=14.1.218.11&e=m...
Error:
The following error was generated when "$error.Clear();
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Set the default Accepted domain from the default recipient policy";
$defaultEmailAddressPolicy = get-EmailAddressPolicy -Identity:"Default Policy";
$defaultSmtpTemplate = $defaultEmailAddressPolicy.EnabledPrimarySMTPAddressTemplate;
$index = $defaultSmtpTemplate.IndexOf("@");
$eapAuthoritativeDomain = $defaultSmtpTemplate.Substring($index+1);
$defaultDomain = get-accepteddomain | where {$_.DomainName -eq $eapAuthoritativeDomain };
$defaultDomain | set-accepteddomain -MakeDefault:$true;
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Default domain $defaultDomain";
" was run: "You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.".
You cannot call a method on a null-valued expression.
Click here for help... http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ms.exch.err.default(EXCHG.141).aspx?v=14.1.218.11&e=m...
Error:
The following error was generated when "$error.Clear();
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Set the default Accepted domain from the default recipient policy";
$defaultEmailAddressPolicy = get-EmailAddressPolicy -Identity:"Default Policy";
$defaultSmtpTemplate = $defaultEmailAddressPolicy.EnabledPrimarySMTPAddressTemplate;
$index = $defaultSmtpTemplate.IndexOf("@");
$eapAuthoritativeDomain = $defaultSmtpTemplate.Substring($index+1);
$defaultDomain = get-accepteddomain | where {$_.DomainName -eq $eapAuthoritativeDomain };
$defaultDomain | set-accepteddomain -MakeDefault:$true;
Write-ExchangeSetupLog -Info "Default domain $defaultDomain";
" was run: "Cannot bind argument to parameter 'Identity' because it is null.".
Cannot bind argument to parameter 'Identity' because it is null.
Click here for help... http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ms.exch.err.default(EXCHG.141).aspx?v=14.1.218.11&e=m...
Elapsed Time: 00:00:04
Preparing Setup
Cancelled
Stopping Services
Cancelled
Languages
Cancelled
Remove Exchange Files
Cancelled
Preparing Files
Cancelled
Copy Exchange Files
Cancelled
Language Files
Cancelled
Restoring services
Cancelled
Languages
Cancelled
Hub Transport Role
Cancelled
Client Access Role
Cancelled
Mailbox Role
Cancelled
Management Tools
Cancelled
Finalizing Setup
Cancelled

Answer 1

Agreed - check the default email address policy is not corrupt and same for remote domains - did you make ay modifications to them?
Since he is running this as das Uber-admin, it will prep Exchange schema and AD even if not explicitly done prior.  Exchange setup is helpful like that, well some times....
Cheers,
Rhoderick
Microsoft Senior Exchange PFE
Blog:
http://blogs.technet.com/rmilne 
Twitter:   LinkedIn:
  Facebook:
  XING:
Note: Posts are provided “AS IS” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and/or fitness for a particular purpose.