In-place upgrade: Windows Server 2012 to 2012 R2

I have a Windows Server 2012 physical server running Exchange Server 2013. Microsoft has stated that Exchange Server 2013 Service Pack 1 (or CU4 in the new parlance) will finally allow Exchange Server 2013 to support Windows Server 2012 R2.
Although Exchange SP1 has not yet been released, I want to do some advance effort planning. If I apply Exchange SP1, will I be able to run an in-place setup/upgrade to Windows Server 2012 R2? Thanks.

Hi,
Since Windows Server 2012 R2 is not currently listed as a supported OS platform for Exchange 2013, it is
not recommended to update the OS on your Exchange servers to Windows server 2012 R2 at the present. For more detailed information, please refer to the link below:
Exchange
Support For Windows Server 2012 R2
Best regards,
Susie

Similar Messages

[Forum FAQ]How to upgrade Windows Server 2008 R2 with a GUI to Windows Server 2012 Server Core

We found that some customers willing to upgrade Windows Server 2008 R2 GUI to Windows Server 2012 Server Core recently. This article provides detailed steps to perform the upgrade.
Analysis
Upgrading from Windows Server 2008 R2 with a GUI installation to Windows Server 2012 with Server Core directly
is not supported. If you do that, you will receive the error message below(Figure 1) in Compatibility report:
Figure 1.
In these scenario, you can upgrade to Windows Server 2012 firstly. After the upgrade process is completed, you can switch freely between Server Core and Server with a GUI modes.
Produces
You can follow the steps below to perform an upgrade from Windows Server 2008 R2 with a GUI installation to Windows Server 2012 Server Core mode:
1. Upgrade to Windows Server 2012 with a GUI mode
1) Firstly, please boot into Windows Server 2008 R2 with a Windows Server 2012 installation DVD inserted.
2) Select the operating system you want to install with a GUI mode.
We can see 2 options (Server Core Installation or Server with a GUI) for each operating system version. (Figure 2)
Figure 2.
Note: Please make sure you have enough disk space on system partition. Or you will get such an error in Compatibility report.(Figure 3)
Figure 3.
After the Compatibility check, the installation will continue. It will take several minutes until upgrading is done.(Figure 4)
Figure 4.
2. Switch the GUI mode to Server Core
Method 1: Using Server Manager
1) Open Server Manager, click
Manger and select “Remove Roles and Features” to start the
Remove Roles and Features Wizard.
2) In Features,
uncheck the box next to the “User Interfaces and Infrastructure” option, and then click “Next”. (Figure 5)
Figure 5.
Now tick the “Restart the destination Server automatically if required” box, then click “Remove”. (Figure 6)
Figure 6.
Method 2: Using Windows PowerShell
There are multiple ways to remove the GUI via Windows PowerShell, we introduce the way of using the ServerManager module.
You can also run the commands in Windows PowerShell with an administrator to remove the GUI feature:
“Import-Module ServerManager”
“Uninstall-Windowsfeature Server-Gui-Shell –Restart”
or
“Uninstall-WindowsFeature Server-Gui-Shell, Server-Gui-Mgmt-Infra –Restart”
It will take a period of time to remove the GUI feature and reboot. When the system boots up, you will get into the Windows Server 2012 with Server Core mode. (Figure 7)
Figure 7.
More information:
Switch between Full and Server Core in Windows Server 2012 using PowerShell 3.0
http://blogs.technet.com/b/puneetvig/archive/2012/10/16/switch-between-full-and-core-in-windows-server-2012-using-powershell-3-0.aspx
Windows Server Installation and Upgrade
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/dn527667.aspx
Please click to vote if the post helps you. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Hi,
Brian is right, for mange the Server 2008r2 sp1 we recommend use the Windows 7 or 7.1 platform.
More information:
Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1)
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=7887
Hope this helps.
We
are trying to better understand customer views on social support experience, so your participation in this
interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time.
Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.

In-place upgrade from Server 2012 to Server 2012 R2

I have a Dell PowerEdge 1850. I installed Server 2012 Standard. This works fine. I made it a domain controller in an existing domain. I also added Print Management Role. This was working fine.
I then did an in-place upgrade to Server 2012 R2. Now it is stuck in a rebooting loop.
It says "Your PC needs to restart. Please hold down the power button. Error Code: 0x000000C4. Parameters: 0x0000000000000091, 0x00000000000000F, 0xFFFFF803827DCA00, 0x0000000000000000.
I cannot get out of this loop. Others have said they have this problem when installing with virtualization. However, I am installing on the native hardware. The CPU does not support hardware virtualization.
This worked fine with Server 2012. In fact, I have 4 other Domain Controllers that are identical to this one running Server 2012. Did Server 2012 R2 add a CPU feature check that is hampering this?
Don Demars

The 1850 is a pretty old box. What you are running into sounds like the lack of a proper disk driver for the box (I've had that happen multiple times during new releases). The disk driver needs to be provided by Dell. I don't believe Dell
supports the 1850 with 2012 R2, so getting a driver for it might be a bit of a challenge. You can find which servers Dell supports under the different versions of Windows Server by checking out
www.windowsservercatalog.com.
Microsoft only puts supported device drivers submitted by the vendors well ahead of time on the distribution media. Seeing that you were able to get 2012 running on the 1850s earlier, my guess is that you had separate media for the driver that you
used during the installation. There is a place during the installation that allows the loading of device drivers that are not on the installation media. If you can get Dell to give you a driver for 2012 R2 for the 1850s, maybe you can update the
driver under 2012 and then update the OS.
Personally, though, I never upgrade a domain controller in place. It is so easy to simply create a new one and add it to the domain. Then, if you do have a driver for 2012 R2, you can load it during the clean installation.
. : | : . : | : . tim

Can't upgrade Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

Even though the "Windows Server Installation and Upgrade" TechNet article (DN627667) claims that I can upgrade Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, it seems I can't. I get an error message saying "Windows 2008
R2 Enterprise cannot be upgraded to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (Server Core Installation). You can choose to install a new copy of Windows..." What might be causing this issue? Thanks for any input! :)

Hi,
Firstly, for retail versions, Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with SP1 can be upgraded to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard/Datacenter.
I assume you are running Windows Server 2008 R2 retail version, right?
In addition, it seems that in earlier version than Windows Server 2012,
once you install the server in Core or with GUI mode, you could not switch to the other. The only option was to rebuild the server from scratch.
Did you install Windows Server 2008 R2 in GUI? If yes, I recommend you to upgrade it to Windows Server 2012 R2 in GUI
mode to see if the issue persists. If it succeed and you want to run in server core, you can just remove the graphical shell and convert your Windows Server 2012 R2 to Server Core.
Best regards,
Susie
Thanks for replying Susie. The 2008 R2 software is the one provided by Microsoft for Action Pack subscribers, so I'm assuming it's not retail. That's another thing, I think I should be installing the GUI as my 2008 has a GUI, not just the server core. For some
reason I missed that and clicked on the server core only install!

Windows Server 2003 32bit in-place upgrade to Server 2008 32bit

I'm attempting an in-place upgrade from Server 2003 to Server 2008. The upgrade will proceed through 3 reboots until it reaches 77% complete and then just stops. I'm assuming that there is a problem with a driver, but I have no way to be sure
since there is never any error message. If I hard-reboot it will roll back to the original OS. Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas?

I'd check the log file for the hang/rollback reason.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927521
Regards, Dave Patrick ....
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

How do you repair ntoskrnl.exe error or system error in windows server 2008 and 2012

hi,
can you repair system file errors like ntoskrnl.exe in windows server 2008 and 2012 like like before in windows server 2003 ?
the steps were repairing ntoskrnl.exe error in windows server 2003
1- have a 2003 cd and from that cd start recovery console and copy from i386 directory ntldr and ntdetect.com to windows /system32 directory on the server and then repairing
2- MBR with fixmbr command and then rebuild BOT.INI file with bootcfg/rebuild .
now my question is how you repair or solve such problem with ntoskrnl.exe error in windows server 2008 and windows server 2012
thanks
johan
h.david

first this wil take a lot of time for windows 2008 and 2012 ,
and what about windows 2003 I thing this has no startup repair
thanks
johan
h.david
What will take a lot of time? Repair or clean install? These days one can standup a new VM and have an operating system on it in around 20 minutes or so.
Correct server 2003 is file based deployment and completely different OS from repair perspective as well.
Regards, Dave Patrick ....
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Migration on windows server 2003 to 2012 r2 by using IIS 6.0 what are parameters are changed means supported and non suported parameters and configurations?

In my project am going to migrate windows server 2003 to 2012 r2 by using IIS 6.0? what are the parameters are changed and what are the parameters are not supported and what are the modules need to change?
Please give the related answer as soon as posssibule. that is more help for me?
Thanks,
vamsikrishna.

1. This seems to be incomplete description.
2. You can enable legacy technologies while installing roles and features.
3. For application pool(s) you should consult respective developer/vendor team(s) for help.
Regards
Milos

In place upgrade Windows 2008 and SQL 2008

Hi all,
We are planning to upgrade to Windows 2012 and SQL 2012 , can we take this in-place upgrade path in the following order ?
Setup 1 Host with 2 VM's running Windows 2008 R2 on Host and Windows 2008 R2/sqL 2008 on VM's.
1. Host1(running 2 VM's) - In-place upgrade windows 2008 R2 to windows 2012 R2
2. VM1 on host1 - In place upgrade windows 2008 R2 to Windows 2012 R2
3. VM2 on host1 - In place upgrade windows 2008 R2 to Windows 2012 R2 (AD Server)
4. SQL running VM1 - In place upgrade SQL 2008 with DB/reporting services to SQL 2012 DB/reporting services
All Servers ( including Host and VM's) are stand alone in a workgroup setup.( except one VM a stand alone AD server by itself).
Thanks for your help.

Hi,
If you want migrate from windows 2008r2 to windows 2012r2, you must install windows server 2008r2 sp1.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn303416.aspx
For the host 1 upgrade, please refer to the following:
http://blog.powerbiz.net.au/server-2012/in-place-upgrade-from-windows-server-2008-r2-to-windows-server-2012/
For the SQL in-place upgrade, i think you may need to ask in SQL forums:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/home?forum=sqlservermigration
Hope this helps.
Regards.
Vivian Wang

How to upgrade Windows Server 2008 Foundation to Windows Server 2008 Standard

I have a Dell server with Windows Server 2008 Foundation installed. I am now on a larger network which has their own servers for authentication and the Windows Server 2008 Foundation will not let join a domain with more than 15 users. I was told that I needed
to upgrade Windows server 2008 foundation to Windows server 2008 Standard and that process can be done "in place" but I can't find how do do it. I called Dell and they said they basically said they didn't know what I was talking about.
How do I do this?

According to the first one you can perform an in-place upgrade.
Introduction to Windows Server 2008 Foundation
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd459191(WS.10).aspx
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade on Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 & Windows Server 2008 R2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2255099
Regards, Dave Patrick ....
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]

I WANT TO UPGRADE WINDOWS SERVER 2008R2 STANDARD EDDITION SP1 TO ENTERPRISE SP1

I HAVE INSTALLED WINDOWS SERVER 2008 SERVICE PACK1 TO ENTERPRISE SERVICE PACK1
C:\Users\Administrator>DISM /online /Get-CurrentEdition
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Current edition is:
Current Edition : ServerStandard
The operation completed successfully.
C:\Users\Administrator>DISM /online /Get-TargetEditions
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Editions that can be upgraded to:
Target Edition : ServerDataCenter
Target Edition : ServerEnterprise
The operation completed successfully.
C:\Users\Administrator>DISM /online /Set-Edition:ServerEnterprise /ProductKey:XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Image Version: 6.1.7600.16385
Error: 50
Setting an Edition is not supported with online images.
The DISM log file can be found at C:\Windows\Logs\DISM\dism.log

“Setting an Edition is not supported with online images” More than likley the reason you are getting this error is because the server you are trying to inplace upgrade has the AD DS Role installed and is acting as a
domain controller. The only way to upgrade this one is to move the FSMO Roles to another server, then DCpromo the server, and make it a member server and then run the command, and then you can go ahead and make the server a Domain Controller once the edition
of Windows has been changed.
http://rickrbyrne.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/in-place-upgrade-from-windows-server-2008-r2-standard-to-enterprise/
UPDATE: One important note, as I'm reminded by Xaegr in the comments, is that
the server can't be a DC at the time of upgrade. If you demote a DC using dcpromo, you can upgrade, then re-promote it (you may need to migrate FSMO roles, etc, in order to succesfully demote.)
http://blogs.technet.com/b/server_core/archive/2009/10/14/upgrading-windows-server-2008-r2-without-media.aspx<o:p></o:p>
http://mariusene.wordpress.com/

Upgrade Windows Server 2012 to Windows Server 2012 R2 in-place upgrade

I have tried to do an in place upgrade for Windows Server 2012 Standard to Windows Server 2012 R2 using the in-place upgrade at least a dozen times. Always with the same unhelpful failure message.
I have tried downloading the latest (setup) update and not downloading it - makes no difference - same error.
I would really rather upgrade this server than re-install. I have scoured the internet looking for answers and I can't find anything useful.
I have downloaded the latest 2012 R2 Standard iso. The version of 2012 installed is a stock retail Standard version it was never an eval version.
Any help much appreciated.
Andy

I did check the article. I did the ADPREP as described and adprep worked fine. Unfortunately it did not make any difference. Log entries below:
setupact
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info MIG End of hive list
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Warning [0x0803db] MIG IndirectKeyMapper: RegLoadKey(HKEY_USERS,S-1-5-21-902023783-652776199-2643897273-500 (1),C:\Users\Administrator\NTUSER.DAT) failed; giving up (32)
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error [0x08039d] MIG Cannot add mapping for user profile C:\Users\Administrator. Error: 32: Win32Exception: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. [0x00000020] __cdecl
Mig::CIndirectKeyMapper::CIndirectKeyMapper(class UnBCL::String *,struct HKEY__ *,class UnBCL::String *,class UnBCL::String *,int,int,const Mig::HiveLoadRetryOptions *)[gle=0x000000cb]
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error [0x080801] MIG User profile loading error. Aborting due to external request.[gle=0x000000cb]
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Warning [0x0803de] MIG Failed to unload hive at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\$ONLINE_RW$ELAM (error 1314)
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Warning [0x0809d4] MIG Failed to close keymapper 'ELAM': error 1314
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Warning [0x0803de] MIG Failed to unload hive at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\$ONLINE_RW$ELAM (error 1314)
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error MigStartupOnline caught exception: Win32Exception: User profile loading error. Aborting due to external request.: The specified user does not have
a valid profile. [0x000004E5] void __cdecl Mig::COnlineWinNTPlatform::ProcessUser(class Mig::CRegistryDataStore *,class Mig::CRegistryDataUnit *,class UnBCL::String *,class UnBCL::String *,int,int)
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info Leaving MigStartupOnline method
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error MIG pDoOnlineGather: Engine initialization failed with error: 0x00000004
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error [0x0800ad] MIG Callback_GatherOldSys: Migration phase failed.
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info MIG PublishCriticalError: Setup can't continue. Restart the computer and restart Setup. When prompted, try getting the latest updates.
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info [0x0a013d] UI Accepting Cancel. Exiting Page Progress.
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info UI Entering Page Cancel.
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info [0x0a0035] UI Allowing Page 'App Compat' to be shown
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info [0x0a0035] UI Allowing Page 'App Compat' to be shown
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Info [0x0a011c] UI WizardDialogPost::SetActive
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x070042] DIAG CallBack_DiagnosticDataSend: Called with notification for Error published by ErrorHandler
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x0a0023] UI progress task ProgressInfo\SendDiagnostics : StartProgress
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info DIAG DiagnosticDataSendWorker: Phase=1 Start time was 0X309961825, End time was 0X309962C98, total time was 0X1473
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x070044] DIAG DiagnosticDataSendWorker: startSetupTimeInSecs = 0X309962634
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x070045] DIAG Processing Diagnostic data at 2014-05-28 09:17:28
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x070046] DIAG DiagnosticDataSendWorker: endSetupTimeInSecs = 0X309963AA8
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info DIAG DiagnosticDataSendWorker: setupInstallTime = 0X1474
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info DIAG DiagnosticDataSendWorker: User is NOT OPTED-IN for SQM and Watson.
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x0a0024] UI progress task ProgressInfo\SendDiagnostics : EndProgress
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x090095] PANTHR WdsExitImmediate called! Execution will stop, and the queue won't be saved.
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info DIAG Module path is [C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\setup.exe]
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info DIAG Module version is [6.3.9600.16384 (winblue_rtm.130821-1623)]
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info DIAG Module path is [C:\$WINDOWS.~BT\Sources\setup.exe]
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info DIAG Failed install count for build [6.3.9600.16384 (winblue_rtm.130821-1623)] is [12]
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info IBS Successfully incremented the failed install count on this machine
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x0800af] MIG Leaving Callback_GatherOldSys (failure)
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x09008c] PANTHR SeqExecute -- stopping, since WdsExitImmediate() was called
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x090086] PANTHR pWorkerThreadFunc -- Stopping
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x090086] PANTHR pWorkerThreadFunc -- Stopping
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x090086] PANTHR pWorkerThreadFunc -- Stopping
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info PANTHR DeleteCriticalSection for pExecQueue->csLock;
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x0500bd] DU Module_Term_DU called
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x050081] DU Done with DU. DUMgr is cleaning up...
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x050082] DU Cleanup completed
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x0605a6] IBS Requested UI to hide the language and locale selection pages.
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x06010d] IBS Module_Term_Productkey: Valid product key in blackboard, show property set to hide.
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info UI CallbackWin32UITerminate: Deleted WizardUI
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x090081] PANTHR Destroying any unreferenced modules! (SEQ6)
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x0601d7] IBS InstallWindows:Error Type = 3211266
2014-05-28 09:17:28, Info [0x090009] PANTHR CBlackboard::Close: c:\$windows.~bt\sources\panther\setupinfo.
setuperr
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error [0x08039d] MIG Cannot add mapping for user profile C:\Users\Administrator. Error: 32: Win32Exception: The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. [0x00000020] __cdecl
Mig::CIndirectKeyMapper::CIndirectKeyMapper(class UnBCL::String *,struct HKEY__ *,class UnBCL::String *,class UnBCL::String *,int,int,const Mig::HiveLoadRetryOptions *)[gle=0x000000cb]
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error [0x080801] MIG User profile loading error. Aborting due to external request.[gle=0x000000cb]
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error MigStartupOnline caught exception: Win32Exception: User profile loading error. Aborting due to external request.: The specified user does not have
a valid profile. [0x000004E5] void __cdecl Mig::COnlineWinNTPlatform::ProcessUser(class Mig::CRegistryDataStore *,class Mig::CRegistryDataUnit *,class UnBCL::String *,class UnBCL::String *,int,int)
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error MIG pDoOnlineGather: Engine initialization failed with error: 0x00000004
2014-05-28 07:56:56, Error [0x0800ad] MIG Callback_GatherOldSys: Migration phase failed.
Kind regards, Andy CISSP, GCIA, GCIH, GPEN, GWAPT, CSTA, CSTP Blog.InfoSecMatters.net

ADWS Broken after in-place upgrade from Server 2008 R2 to Server 2012 R2

I performed an in-place upgrade from 64-bit Server 2008 R2 to Server 2012 R2. This machine ran Active Directory Web Services. After the upgrade ADWS will not start. I get the following event log error:
Log Name:      Application
Source:        .NET Runtime
Date:          11/21/2014 3:23:02 PM
Event ID:      1026
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          N/A
Computer:      COMPUTER
Description:
Application: Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.WebServices.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.ServiceModel.CommunicationObjectFaultedException
Stack:
   at System.ServiceModel.Channels.CommunicationObject.Close(System.TimeSpan)
   at Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.WebServices.WindowsHostService.StartService(System.Object)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
   at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart(System.Object)
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
    <Provider Name=".NET Runtime" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="0">1026</EventID>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2014-11-21T20:23:02.000000000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>65596</EventRecordID>
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>COMPUTER</Computer>
    <Security />
</System>
<EventData>
    <Data>Application: Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.WebServices.exe
Framework Version: v4.0.30319
Description: The process was terminated due to an unhandled exception.
Exception Info: System.ServiceModel.CommunicationObjectFaultedException
Stack:
   at System.ServiceModel.Channels.CommunicationObject.Close(System.TimeSpan)
   at Microsoft.ActiveDirectory.WebServices.WindowsHostService.StartService(System.Object)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object, Boolean)
   at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(System.Threading.ExecutionContext, System.Threading.ContextCallback, System.Object)
   at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart(System.Object)
</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

I compared the registry with a working system but the Counters - and all other keys - looked fine.
At the same time as upgrading a DC a colleague was updating an unrelated server, and he started to see similar events in the event log (but for the Dell OpenManage Essentials service, not ADWS). The error was complaining about KERNELBASE.dll which set my
spider sense tingling. We knew that this server had Windows Updates pending. Fully updating it solved the problem on that server.
I solved the ADWS problem in the end by fully Windows Updating the DC. In particular, the ADWS Service started successfully after installing KB2919355 and rebooting. That also
'unlocked' a further 59 updates pending.
After the in-place upgrade I always fully Windows Update but I'm 99% certain that KB2919355 did NOT show up when I did a Check for Updates straight after a reboot so I thought the DC was up-to-date. I then spent hours investigating the ADWS problem and rebooted
as part of the diagnostics. It was then that I noticed on the logon screen that there were updates pending...
Moral of the story? Windows Update, then Update again, and again, and again. The length of time it takes to Windows Update after an upgrade from 2008R2 to 2012R2 is painful though.

Best practices for upgrading Windows Server Essentials 2012 to R2?

Hi,
I need to upgrade my Windows Server Essentials 2012 on an HP microserver to Essentials R2 (specifically the R2 role on Standard rather than as a VM). After a reasonable amount of searching, I haven't found anything online that specifically addresses this in-place
upgrade scenario. Since this is already an Essentials server, it's the PDC in its own domain, etc. Has anyone that's done this upgrade have any experiences or warnings to share?
Thanks,
Sean

Hello there,
There is no upgrade path from Server 2012 Essentials to R2. R2 is not an upgrade, it is a new build. Essentials does not upgrade easily, you will want to perform a migration of the server. This will require additional hardware. You
can possibly backup the 2012 Essentials, build a temp server on workstation hardware just to do the migration from, restore the backup to the new server and then perform the migration to R2.

Upgrading Windows Server 2012 Essential Eval to Windows Server 2012 R2 Retail

I need to upgrade from Windows Server 2012 Essential Eval version to Windows Server 2012 R2 Retail. What would be the easiest way to upgrade if license $$ is not an issue? The Server is a DC. Would the following works:
1. Upgrade from Windows Server 2012 Essential Eval to Windows Server 2012 Essential Retail
2. Do a conversion from Windows Server 2012 Essential Retail to Windows Server 2012 Standard Retail (I suppose this just require several command line to enable the 2012 Standard)
3. Do an in-place upgrade from Windows Server 2012 Standard to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard (there is no need to do migration, am I right?)
Thanks.

I just did a simulation using Hyper V. It seems that I'm able to do the upgrade sequence as described but I'm not sure whether there are any side effect that not yet surface out. Here is the details steps that I took:
1. Under Windows Server 2012 Essential Eval
convert the Windows Server Essential 2012 Eval to Windows Server Standard 2012 using the following command in an elevated command prompot
dism /online /set-edition:ServerStandard /productkey:xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx /accepteula
press "y" and return to restart as prompted
the productkey could be retail key or the KMS client keys (just for installation not for activiation)
2. After reboot, the system become Windows Server 2012 Standard
using admin account to login
add admin account to the Enterprise Admins group and Schema Admins group if not already done so, logout and login again
mount the Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard disk in, say, drive d:
in an elevated command prompt, go the following:
cd d:\support\adprep
.\adprep.exe /forestprep
.\adprep.exe /domainprep
double click on d: in explore to run the Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard setup
follow the instruction to complete the in-place upgrade from Windos Server 2012 to Windows Server 2012 R2
3. After reboot into Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard, go to the charms bar, select setting -> server info, it will mention the server is not activated, click on Activate Windows and key in the Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard retail key

How can I upgrade Windows Server 2012 Essentials to Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials?

I have just installed Windows Server 2012 Essentials on my Home Network (from the installation DVD). I have done absolutely no configuration Installing Server 2012 was an oversight; I meant to install Server 2012 R2 Essentials.
I tried to correct by installing R2 from its DVD, hoping it would do an upgrade. That didn't work.
Is there a simple way to make it possible to install the correct OS?   For example, can I just demote the existing server and remove any roles that were installed, so that the R2 disk will install over top of the existing installation?
Alternatively, is it safe to just reformat the partition and install R2?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn408635.aspx seems to imply that this is OK.
David Pike, P.Eng, MCITP

Hi Larry.   Thanks for the reply. It didn't work, but I don't believe you are wrong. Rather I think there is something weird in my system. I'm marking your reply as answer.
Some background: I'm repurposing an older PC (Compaq SR1614X) as a home server, to manage my home network, use as a gateway to my Azure server, and to help my Server 2012 training (on MVA). I've been messing with it for nearly two months,
on and off. From the start, I've had trouble installing the server 2012 software (see previous threads August-27 and August-16
), but when I got to the point that I could install Server 2012 Essentials, I thought I could upgrade to Server 2012 R2 Essentials exactly as you suggest. That was where you helped me a lot, i.e. you confirmed that my expectations were reasonable.
So when it didn't work, I spent most of yesterday trying various different procedures. I got tantalizingly close, but still no cigar.
I can install any Windows Client and Server 2012 Essentials, but the R2 Essentials installation never finishes; it goes into an "error 0x000000C4" boot loop. At first I wondered if it was because I was installing a server over a
server, but you confirmed that's not the issue. I later verified that I cannot install R2 over Windows 7 either, whereas R1 over Win7 is fine. I can only surmise one of two problems:
I have a bad installation disk
There is a hardware issue
I plan to eliminate (1) by creating a new disk from a new download. I have verified that the latest ISO file and the one I have been using have identical byte counts,
For (2), I had suspected that the problem was that the older system has no UEFI, but since R1 installs OK, I am discounting that. Today's effort: to eliminate the DVD drive, I will try booting from a Flash Drive. To eliminate
the hard drive, I will try installing to a different drive.
I am hoping you can help with one more thing. When I run setup.exe with the /noreboot option, I have a better chance of success. The option suppresses the first reboot only, but that one (after "Expanding the setup files") always
fails, so suppressing it gets me almost to the end of the install. Is there a way to modify setup.exe so the it always runs with the /noreboot option?

In-place upgrade: Windows Server 2012 to 2012 R2

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