[Forum FAQ] Introduce the Windows Essentials Connector software and checklist for its configuration issues

Question

Introduction
The Connector software for the Windows Server Essentials OS connects the computers in your network to the Windows Server Essentials server. When you connect computers to the server via Connector
software, it will help you to automatically back up the computers and monitor their health. Meanwhile, you will be able to configure and remotely administer the Windows Server Essentials server. The Connector software is installed when you connect a client
computer to the server. You can start by typing http://<your_server_name>/connect
Example: Windows 8.1 connects to Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
1. Open the Dashboard on Windows Server 2012 Essentials, navigate to USERS tab. Right click and select Add a user account (Figure 1). Then follow the Add a User Account wizard to configure
and add the user account (Figure 2).
Figure 1: Add a user account -1
Figure 2: Add a user account -2
2. Logon the client computer, type the http://<your_server_name>/connect in IE. Then you will see the download page for Connector software (Figure 3).
Figure 3：Download the
Connector software
3. Click Download software for Windows and download the Connect software (ComputerConnector), then run it.
After restart automatically, please follow the Windows Server Essentials Connector Configuration Wizard (Figure 4 – Figure 7).
Figure 4: Windows Server Essentials Connector Configuration Wizard -1
Figure 5: Windows Server Essentials Connector Configuration Wizard -2
Figure 6: Windows Server Essentials Connector Configuration Wizard -3
Figure 7: Windows Server Essentials Connector Configuration Wizard -4
4. When complete the configuration wizard and logon the client computer, you will be able to use the Launchpad (Figure 8).
Figure 8: Launchpad
5. Meanwhile, when you open Dashboard, will be able to find that the Windows 8.1 is listed under DEVICES. It will help administrators to manage the client computer (Figure 9).
Figure 9: Clients listed in the Devices panel
For Windows XP
You can type http://<your_server_name>/connect in IE. Then the download page will appear (Figure 10).
Figure 10: Download page
However, it will encounter the error: “xxx.exe is not a valid Win32 application” (Figure 11).
Figure 11: Error message on Windows XP
Windows XP is not a supported OS for client computer. For more details, please refer to
Get Connected in Windows Server Essentials.
In addition, please note:
Microsoft ended support for Windows XP on April 8, 2014. This change has affected your software updates and security options.

Answer 1

Checklist for the configuration issues
First of all, when we want to connect the client computers to Windows Server Essentials, please check if the date and time settings for the client computer is consistent with the server.
Meanwhile, please also check the Regional and Language settings.
Issue 1: Installation did not succeed
When accept the license terms to continue in the configuration wizard, you may encounter the error (Figure 12).
Installation did not succeed
Windows Server Essentials Connector has not been installed because:
Cannot download the package.
Verify that your device is connected to the Internet, and then install the Windows Server Essentials Connector.
Figure 12: Installation did not succeed
Checklist:
1. Verify the DNS client settings.
2. Check the communication between DNS server and the client.
3. Check if you can ping server via IP address and server name successfully
Issue 2: Cannot connect this computer to the network (Network related)
This computer is already connected to another Windows Server network. Before connecting this computer to the Windows Server Essentials network, you must remove this computer from the
current network.
To resolve this issue, contact the person responsible for your network.
Figure 13: Cannot connect this computer to the network (Network related)
Checklist:
1. Check if the client computer is a member of another server network.
2. Change the client computer to Workgroup via administrator. Then check if you can connect it to the new Windows Server Essentials network.
Issue 3:
Cannot connect this computer to the network (Account related)
The computer cannot be connected to the server using the user name and password credentials provided. This may be because an existing computer account having name “ComputerName” was previously
created using a different set of credentials. Rename this computer and then try to connect this computer to the server again, or contact your administrator to remove any old conflicting account.
When you connect the client computer to server essentials with a new user account, please check if the client computer has been connected to the server essentials, and didn’t remove from
Dashboard. You may encounter the following error.
Figure 14: Cannot connect this computer to the network (Account related)
Checklist:
1. Check if the client computer has been connected to the server essentials, and didn’t remove from Dashboard.
2. Remove the client computer from the Dashboard, then try again.
Additional resource:
Troubleshoot connecting computers to the server in Windows Server Essentials
Windows 2012 Server Essentials ConnectComputer
Troubleshooting