Windows Server 2012 Essentials Connector version is more current than server

In trying to connect a new laptop to domain/server, it kept failing with a message indicating that other software was in the process of installing or that a reboot was pending. Since neither was the case, I downloaded the current version of the Connector
software from the Microsoft website to try. That didn't work either. It turns out that a pre-installed software component called Intel Smart Connect Tech was keeping the laptop from connecting. I uninstalled this software and installed the
connector software and it appeared to connect to the server. However, it is displayed in the Essentials Dashboard as Offline. The client (Laptop) displays a message saying "The Windows Server 2012 Essentials Connector version that is installed
on this computer is more recent that the sever. Contact the administrator to ensure the server is up to date". I tried uninstalling the Connector software from Control Panel, but I get a message "Could not delete key \software\microsoft\windows
server. Verify that you have sufficient access to that key, or contact your support personnel". I've tried both with domain admin and local admin credentials. So, I ignored the message and continued the connector install. It finished
and appeared to connect successfully. The connector version displayed in Control Panel\Programs and Features is correct. However, the registry entry is not updated and the version error pops up with each login and the Dashboard shows the client
as offline.

Hi C.R.Lowe,
Based on your description, I’m a little confused with this issue. Before going further, would you please let
me confirm something more? Thanks for your understanding.
When connect the client to Windows Server 2012 Essentials, did you mean that use
http://<servername>/Connect
and then select Download software for Windows option? More descriptions, please refer to the following article.
To connect a client computer to the
server
If I misunderstand, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
On current situation, please navigate to the registry path as the error message shows. And check
Version value and let me know. Meanwhile, please right click
Windows Server folder in Registry Editor and select “Permissions…”, then check if the account was assigned the correct permission to delete key.
In addition, please check if you have installed the
Update Rollup 1 for Windows Server 2012 Essentials
By the way, please check Event Viewer and some related logs if can find some more clues. If any update, please
feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Similar Messages

Server 2012 Essentials Connector Software fails to properly configure a Win8.1 Pro for domain connection

I'm having problems getting the connector setup software to properly install and configure a machine for connecting to a domain running on a Windows Server 2012 r2 Essentials machine. The machine is a Windows 8.1 Pro laptop. I've successfully setup two other
machines that connect to the domain.
The software runs and prompts for admin user name and password. It then asks about server backup and then completes the setup (successfully according to the setup). The whole process takes less than two minutes and never reboots the machine. The next time
I login into the machine, I'm prompted for my hotmail password (not Ctrl-Alt-Del and domain login). I can access the server and all of the files, but the launchpad and dashboard are not installed. I've searched the Internet for a solution and found nothing.
I downloaded the connector install files from the Microsoft Download Center, but that ran as an update in less than a minute and did nothing.
Anyone run into this? Anyone know of a solution? Help would be much appreciated!

Can you share the log files from the client?
Should be under: c:\programdata\microsoft\windows server\logs
Robert Pearman SBS MVP
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500 Internal Server Error - WS 2012 Essentials connector software

I get this error on the client computers after entering http://<servername>/connect into client computer browser.

Hi,
Have you tried to visit the URL you mentioned on the server side?
Also I suggest that you should try IP address instead of server name to verify the webpage you have received.
Regards,
James
James Xiong
TechNet Community Support

Receive a "Server is Not Available" error when trying to connect win 7 pro PC to Windows Server Essentials 2012 R2 Domain via Connector

I am trying to connect Windows 7 Pro 64 bit SP1 Computers to a Windows Server 2012 Essentials R2 domain and I receive the following error: "The server is not available. Try connecting to this computer again, or for more information, see Troubleshoot
connecting computers to the server." I have tried all of the steps in the Microsoft technet article "http://technet.microsoft.com/library/jj635102.aspx" and still am receiving this error. A little background on this specific case...
All of these computers were already attached to a different Windows Server Essentials 2012 R2 domain. They have all been taken off the existing domain and added to a workgroup. I have uninstalled the Server Essentials 2012 Connector and deleted
all log files. Has anyone else had this issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated! This is an urgent issue... Thanks in advance all!

Would you be willing to run this script on your server?
http://gallery.technet.microsoft.com/Windows-Server-Essentials-556159c3
Also on a client to test connectivity?
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Configuration failed for Windows Server Update Services on Server 2012 R2 Essentials (Trial Version)

Hi,
I'm trying to setup the WSUS on the Server 2012 R2 Essentials (Trial Version) but with no luck. Below are the logs generated. Hopefully someone can guide me on this. Thanks.
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Postinstall started
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Detected role services: Api, UI, WidDatabase, Services
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Start: LoadSettingsFromXml
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Start: GetConfigValue with filename=UpdateServices-Services.xml item=ContentLocal
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Value is true
2014-10-15 12:23:06 End: GetConfigValue
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Start: GetConfigValue with filename=UpdateServices-Services.xml item=ContentDirectory
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Value is C:\WSUS
2014-10-15 12:23:06 End: GetConfigValue
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Content directory is C:\WSUS
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Database roleservice is not installed
2014-10-15 12:23:06 End: LoadSettingsFromXml
Post install is starting
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Start: Run
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Fetching WsusAdministratorsSid from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Value is S-1-5-21-308464661-3380577483-199018475-1000
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Fetching WsusReportersSid from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:06 Value is S-1-5-21-308464661-3380577483-199018475-1001
2014-10-15 12:23:19 Configuring content directory...
2014-10-15 12:23:19 Configuring groups...
2014-10-15 12:23:19 Starting group configuration for WSUS Administrators...
2014-10-15 12:23:19 Found group in regsitry, attempting to use it...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Writing group to registry...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Finished group creation
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Starting group configuration for WSUS Reporters...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Found group in regsitry, attempting to use it...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Writing group to registry...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Finished group creation
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Configuring permissions...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Fetching content directory...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Fetching ContentDir from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Value is C:\WSUS
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Fetching group SIDs...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Fetching WsusAdministratorsSid from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Value is S-1-5-21-308464661-3380577483-199018475-1000
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Fetching WsusReportersSid from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Value is S-1-5-21-308464661-3380577483-199018475-1001
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Creating group principals...
2014-10-15 12:23:22 Granting directory permissions...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Granting permissions on content directory...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Granting registry permissions...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Granting registry permissions...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Granting registry permissions...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Configuring shares...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Configuring network shares...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Fetching content directory...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Fetching ContentDir from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Value is C:\WSUS
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Fetching WSUS admin SID...
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Fetching WsusAdministratorsSid from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Value is S-1-5-21-308464661-3380577483-199018475-1000
2014-10-15 12:23:23 Content directory is local, creating content shares...
2014-10-15 12:23:25 Creating share "UpdateServicesPackages" with path "C:\WSUS\UpdateServicesPackages" and description "A network share to be used by client systems for collecting all software packages (usually applications) published
on this WSUS system."
2014-10-15 12:23:25 Creating share...
2014-10-15 12:23:25 Share successfully created
2014-10-15 12:23:25 Creating share "WsusContent" with path "C:\WSUS\WsusContent" and description "A network share to be used by Local Publishing to place published content on this WSUS system."
2014-10-15 12:23:26 Creating share...
2014-10-15 12:23:26 Share successfully created
2014-10-15 12:23:26 Creating share "WSUSTemp" with path "C:\Program Files\Update Services\LogFiles\WSUSTemp" and description "A network share used by Local Publishing from a Remote WSUS Console Instance."
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Creating share...
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Share successfully created
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Finished creating content shares
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Stopping service WSUSService
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Stopping service W3SVC
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Configuring WID database...
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Configuring the database...
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Establishing DB connection...
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Checking to see if database exists...
2014-10-15 12:23:28 Database exists
2014-10-15 12:23:28 Switching database to single user mode...
2014-10-15 12:23:32 Loading install type query...
2014-10-15 12:23:32 DECLARE @currentDBVersion int
DECLARE @scriptMajorVersion int = (9600)
DECLARE @scriptMinorVersion int = (16384)
DECLARE @databaseMajorVersion int
DECLARE @databaseMinorVersion int
DECLARE @databaseBuildNumber nvarchar(10)
IF NOT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM sys.databases WHERE name='SUSDB')
BEGIN
SELECT 1
END
ELSE
BEGIN
SET @currentDBVersion = (SELECT SchemaVersion FROM SUSDB.dbo.tbSchemaVersion WHERE ComponentName = 'CoreDB')
SET @databaseBuildNumber = (SELECT BuildNumber FROM SUSDB.dbo.tbSchemaVersion WHERE ComponentName = 'CoreDB')
DECLARE @delimiterPosition INT = CHARINDEX('.', @databaseBuildNumber)
IF (@delimiterPosition = 0)
BEGIN
RAISERROR('Invalid schema version number', 16, 1) with nowait
return
END
SET @databaseMajorVersion = SUBSTRING(@databaseBuildNumber, 1, @delimiterPosition - 1)
SET @databaseMinorVersion = SUBSTRING(@databaseBuildNumber, (@delimiterPosition + 1), (10 - @delimiterPosition))
IF @currentDBVersion < 926
BEGIN
SELECT 3
END
ELSE
BEGIN
IF (@scriptMajorVersion > @databaseMajorVersion OR
(@scriptMajorVersion = @databaseMajorVersion AND @scriptMinorVersion > @databaseMinorVersion))
BEGIN
SELECT 2
END
ELSE IF (@scriptMajorVersion = @databaseMajorVersion AND
@scriptMinorVersion = @databaseMinorVersion)
BEGIN
SELECT 0
END
ELSE
BEGIN
SELECT 4
END
END
END
2014-10-15 12:23:32 Install type is: Reinstall
2014-10-15 12:23:32 Creating logins...
2014-10-15 12:23:32 Fetching account info for S-1-5-20
2014-10-15 12:23:32 Found principal
2014-10-15 12:23:32 Found account
2014-10-15 12:23:32 Got binary SID
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Fetching WsusAdministratorsSid from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Value is S-1-5-21-308464661-3380577483-199018475-1000
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Fetching account info for S-1-5-21-308464661-3380577483-199018475-1000
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Found principal
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Found account
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Got binary SID
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Setting content location...
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Fetching ContentDir from registry store
2014-10-15 12:23:35 Value is C:\WSUS
2014-10-15 12:23:40 Swtching DB to multi-user mode......
2014-10-15 12:23:47 Finished setting multi-user mode
2014-10-15 12:23:47 Writing DB settings to registry...
2014-10-15 12:23:47 Marking PostInstall done for UpdateServices-WidDatabase in the registry...
2014-10-15 12:23:47 Starting service W3SVC
2014-10-15 12:23:47 Configuring IIS...
2014-10-15 12:23:47 Start: ConfigureWebsite
2014-10-15 12:23:51 System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80070003): The system cannot find the path specified.
at System.DirectoryServices.DirectoryEntry.Bind(Boolean throwIfFail)
at System.DirectoryServices.DirectoryEntry.Bind()
at System.DirectoryServices.DirectoryEntry.get_AdsObject()
at System.DirectoryServices.PropertyValueCollection.PopulateList()
at System.DirectoryServices.PropertyValueCollection..ctor(DirectoryEntry entry, String propertyName)
at System.DirectoryServices.PropertyCollection.get_Item(String propertyName)
at Microsoft.UpdateServices.Administration.UseCustomWebSite..ctor()
at Microsoft.UpdateServices.Administration.PostInstall.ConfigureWebsite(Int32 portNumber)
at Microsoft.UpdateServices.Administration.PostInstall.Run()
at Microsoft.UpdateServices.Administration.PostInstall.Execute(String[] arguments)
Fatal Error: The system cannot find the path specified.

2014-10-15 12:23:47 Start: ConfigureWebsite
2014-10-15 12:23:51 System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException (0x80070003): The system cannot find the path specified.
Looks like it failed trying to setup the website.
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Configuring WID database...
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Configuring the database...
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Establishing DB connection...
2014-10-15 12:23:27 Checking to see if database exists...
2014-10-15 12:23:28 Database exists
This also looks like its a RE-installation of WSUS.
Any chance the "WSUS Administration" v-root is already present and did not get deleted after the last uninstallation?
Lawrence Garvin, M.S., MCSA, MCITP:EA, MCDBA
SolarWinds Head Geek
Microsoft MVP - Software Packaging, Deployment & Servicing (2005-2014)
My MVP Profile: http://mvp.microsoft.com/en-us/mvp/Lawrence%20R%20Garvin-32101
http://www.solarwinds.com/gotmicrosoft
The views expressed on this post are mine and do not necessarily reflect the views of SolarWinds.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials (not R2) - all client computers offline

The server is Windows Server 2012 Essentials (not R2). I have had this problem ever since I first installed the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server in the summer of 2013 (before R2 was released). The Windows Server 2012 Essentials server shows offline
for all Devices under Dashboard. (Allow me to add that I just installed another site with Windows Server 2012 Essentials R2, and it was a breeze - all of the computers at the second install site are online.) I have one Windows 8.1 Pro client and the rest
are Windows 7 Pro clients. The problem occurs on ALL client computers.
I have removed computers from Devices in Dashboard on the server, rebooted the server, changed the client computer to a workgroup, rebooted the client computer, and reinstalled the connector software on the client computer. Same result. I
have tried this on a Windows 7 Pro client and a Windows 8.1 Pro client with the same results.
After running the connector on a client computer and waiting for the server to update its Devices status, if I look under Devices on the server Dashboard, the Windows 8.1 client computer will say online but within 24 hours it goes offline again. The
Windows 7 client computers never show online. Both computers stay offline - they NEVER show an online status (referring to the status under Devices in Dashboard).
I should make it clear that the clients can access the server shares with no problem. File synchronization works great. The clients can ping the server and the server can ping the clients. But client backups on the server fail.
One of the most troublesome things about this problem is that it prevents the client computers from being accessed remotely using the website setup by Anywhere Access. I can login to get remote access to the shared files on the server, but
the only computer that says "online" is the server. All of the other computers are "offline".
The server and clients are only using Windows firewall. The clients all use Microsoft Security Essentials for their anti-virus.
I used a troubleshooting tool that tells me that there are problems with port 6602 on the server, but the clients are all fine with port 6602. I know port 6602 is important for using Anywhere Access but I am still trying to find out more details on that.
I have checked all of the firewall settings related to port 6602 on the server, and the firewall settings look like the standard Windows settings for this port. I used netstat to find the PID associated with the port, and I looked up the PID to find the service.
That all looked standard, too.
I have been working on this problem since the summer of 2013!! Does anyone have ANY suggestions?!!
HELP!

Hi,
Just addition, please check if all necessary Windows updates are installed on those
“Offline” client computer.
When connect client computers to the Windows Server 2012 Essentials server by using the Connector software, there
will be LAUNCHPAD on the client computer. Was this LAUNCHPAD grayed out? Please check if can access Shared Folders via this LAUNCHPAD. Meanwhile, please ping the Windows Server 2012 Essentials via IP address and server name when client computers show as
Offline. Any find?
Get Connected in Windows Server Essentials
In addition, please follow the path on Server and client computer:
%programdata%\Microsoft\Windows Server\Logs. Did you check any relevant Server-side logs and
Client-side Logs if find more clues?
Windows
Server Essentials 2012/2012 R2 Log Files
If any update, please feel free to let us know.
Hope this helps.
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]

Boot up of Windows Server 2012 Essentials seems slow (extended Please Wait screen) and there are errors in Health Report

Dear Sir or Madam,
I have been experimenting with the evaluation version of WS2012e trying to get the installation and subsequent build into an optimal set up, and once I have everything I want it to do mapped out, I'll set it up with the full version with using the key that
I bought.
However, I've noticed that the server seems to experience a delay during cold boot - it sits with a Please Wait screen for about 60-90 seconds before it presents the screen with an option to Log on. I have also discovered from running Health
Report, that there are some entries in the event logs which appear to coincide with start up times, and which seem to be interconnected to each other in the issues they are describing, and I have copied an example of one of those health reports below.
I assume that everything sorts itself out in due course, because the events say the process will be re-attempted and these errors don't repeat again after the system has booted up. I also have the server set to suspend when not in use with the Lights
Out add in, so it shouldn't need to cold boot often - but I wondered if there's a way to correct these errors so that they don't hold up the boot up process? I'm also concerned that these errors will cause me later problems with storage pools and
the like at a later date - the disk replication one seems particularly worrying. Alternatively, are these errors just a normal part of the start up process - the timing of when different processes start relative to each other - and can be safely ignored?
In trying to understand what the events describe, I thought that WE2012e acted as its own Domain Controller, and yet it seems from the event log entries that it is waiting for another server to respond to AD / DC requests (but there isn't another server
on my home network). The other thing I remember from when I first tried out WS2012e, is that it took control of DHCP or DNS from the router, and I found that frustrating when waking up my laptop and it wouldn't connect to the internet until the server
had fully booted up and re-asserted its network settings. Is this another symptom of the same problem? I remember seeing a posting at the SBS Diva's site about how to update the server so that it gave connected PCs a backup option for connecting
to the internet when the server wasn't available, and was going to try to find that again to see if that helped.
By way of background - there isn't another server in my home network. This is an attempt to do a clean install onto the same hardware that I ran the initial trial of WS2012e, now that the trial has expired, so I'm not trying to migrate from an existing
server. I moved all the data on the trial server off onto an external disk, with the intention of importing it back once I had the Storage Pools set up the way I wanted on the new build, and since I didn't want to keep anything else about the server
trial. Am I correct in thinking that I don't need to go down the Migration route during installation, and can go through a Clean install in this circumstance?
I'm running on an Asus P8-H77-i motherboard, with an i5-3470s CPU and 16MB RAM, and I have WS2012e installed on 256Mb SSD formatted under GPT with uEFI boot - the latter being the main reason for the reinstall, instead of just giving the Evaluation
version the new key on the original MBR set up. I've also enabled Intel Rapid Storage and Rapid Start - and successfully set aside the hibernate partition on the SSD - but discovered that this is about forcing a hibernate after suspend, allowing
the system to power down until its needed again, and then resuming from hibernate on the SSD rather than cold boot each time. That seems to work, but doesn't improve the cold boot times at all, which was what I was hoping for - ideally the way my
laptop will boot from cold in a few seconds into Windows 8.
Yours faithfully,
Avon
======
Health Report extract.
Critical Errors in Event Logs in Last 24 Hours
DFSR
Event ID: 3221226674
The DFS Replication service failed to contact domain controller to access
configuration information. Replication is stopped. The service will try again
during the next configuration polling cycle, which will occur in 60 minutes.
This event can be caused by TCP/IP connectivity, firewall, Active Directory
Domain Services, or DNS issues.
Additional Information:
Error: 160 (One or more arguments are not correct.)
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:28
Total occurrence(s): 2
DNS
Event ID: 2147487661
The DNS server is waiting for Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) to signal that the initial synchronization of the directory has been completed. The DNS server service cannot start until the initial synchronization is complete because critical DNS
data might not yet be replicated onto this domain controller. If events in the AD DS event log indicate that there is a problem with DNS name resolution, consider adding the IP address of another DNS server for this domain to the DNS server list in the Internet
Protocol properties of this computer. This event will be logged every two minutes until AD DS has signaled that the initial synchronization has successfully completed.
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:15
Total occurrence(s): 2
ADWS
Event ID: 3221226674
This computer is now hosting the specified directory instance, but Active Directory Web Services could not service it. Active Directory Web Services will retry this operation periodically.
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:08
Total occurrence(s): 2
NTDS General
Event ID: 2147486534
The security of this directory server can be significantly enhanced by configuring the server to reject SASL (Negotiate,
Kerberos, NTLM, or Digest) LDAP binds that do not request signing (integrity verification) and LDAP simple binds that
are performed on a cleartext (non-SSL/TLS-encrypted) connection. Even if no clients are using such binds,
configuring the server to reject them will improve the security of this server.
Some clients may currently be relying on unsigned SASL binds or LDAP simple binds over a non-SSL/TLS connection,
and will stop working if this configuration change is made. To assist in identifying these clients, if such binds occur this
directory server will log a summary event once every 24 hours indicating how many such binds
occurred. You are encouraged to configure those clients to not use such binds. Once no such events are observed
for an extended period, it is recommended that you configure the server to reject such binds.
For more details and information on how to make this configuration change to the server, please see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=87923.
You can enable additional logging to log an event each time a client makes such a bind, including
information on which client made the bind. To do so, please raise the setting for the "LDAP Interface Events" event logging category
to level 2 or higher.
Last occurrence: 26 May 2014 18:51:00
Total occurrence(s): 2
=======

Hi KerguelanAvon,
Based on your description, it seems to be hard to narrow down the cause of this issue. Please refer to following operations and monitor the result. It may help us to go further, and then solve this issue.
1. Please refer to the following article and troubleshoot slow boot.
New Slow Logon, Slow Boot Troubleshooting Content
2. On your server 2012 essentials, please start a BPA scan and fix all that it can find, then monitor the result.
Regarding to those critical Errors in Health Report, please perform
Dcdiag on the server. Meanwhile, please refer to the following article and troubleshoot network connectivity, firewall setting and AD DS issue.
DFSR Event 1202 (DFS Replication)
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu
Hi Justin,
I'm reading through the links you referred me to but it's taking a while. In the meantime I tried running BPA as you suggested. I'm sure when I ran it before, it didn't say much beyond 81 checks completed, and I couldn't find a way to get any
more detail.
Now it says
Problem:
The DNS client is not configured to point only to the internal IP address of the server.
Impact:
If the DNS client is not configured to point only to the internal IP address of the server, DNS name resolution can fail.
Resolution:
To resolve this problem:
1. From the client computer, open the Properties page for the network connection.
2. Make sure that DNS is configured to point only to the internal IP address of the server.
Except that it is.
Connection-specific DNS Suffix:
Description: Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
Physical Address: ‎00-1B-B1-28-AE-63
DHCP Enabled: Yes
IPv4 Address: 192.168.1.133
IPv4 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lease Obtained: 03 June 2014 21:56:49
Lease Expires: 05 June 2014 20:24:20
IPv4 Default Gateway: 192.168.1.1
IPv4 DHCP Server: 192.168.1.1
IPv4 DNS Server: 192.168.1.49
IPv4 WINS Server:
NetBIOS over Tcpip Enabled: Yes
Link-local IPv6 Address: fe80::80ef:48d5:9fde:f10e%14
IPv6 Default Gateway:
IPv6 DNS Server:
I'll try rebooting from the current windows 7 build over to windows 8 on my dual boot laptop, to see if that makes any difference, since it is the only other client PC connected to the server at the moment.
Thanks, Avon.

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Connection Software not working

This comes in response to a ticket I got great help from a user on but I'm still stuck on the connection software bit.
Original Thread: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/0a7e6d91-98c7-42f2-9cdd-66117df91d76/win-2012-essentials-not-allowing-client-connections?forum=winserveressentials#0a7e6d91-98c7-42f2-9cdd-66117df91d76
Summary: All my machines 8 of them up to now have been adding machines using the servername/connect
Well I have 2 new HP's here Win 7 Pro all updated that WILL NOT get past the asking for the server username/pass screen of the connects software install. I can get them onto the server manually and my GP applies fine, my roaming profiles are working, the
computer is seen in AD but I have none of the features that are provided by the connect software like dashboard viewing and backups etc.
The error I get is "The server is not available. Try connecting this computer again, or for more information, see Troubleshoot connecting computers to the server"
Anyone have any ideas?

Hi James,
Based on your description, “Well I have 2 new HP's here Win 7 Pro all updated that WILL NOT get past the
asking for the server username/pass screen of the connects software install.”, would you please let me confirm whether have reached the page of Windows Server Essentials Connector Configuration Wizard as below picture shows, then can’t go through?
àI can get them
onto the server manually and my GP applies fine, my roaming profiles are working, the computer is seen in AD
Did you mean that add the client computer to windows essentials domain by using traditional method (change
Workgroup to Domain in System Properties)?
When this issue occurred, please ping server from the problematic client computer by using server name and
IP address. Then monitor the result.
Meanwhile, I noticed your
original thread that Howtodo have provided some suggestions. As he mentioned, would you please check if Connector software had been installed? Please alos check ClientDeploy log file.
By the way, did you add the client computer to windows server essentials network via wireless?
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

The restor pocess did not succeed because your computer cannot connect to the server - Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials Experience

Hi all
I've been running Windows Server 2012 R2 with the Essentials Experience in test for a Windows 8.1 client environment, on an HP ProLiant MicroServer N54L. Overall I've found the Essential Experience set-up over WHS2011 and WHSv1 okay; still looking to extract
any real value over the former versions.
This box has been up and running for a few months now, with client backups of a Win 8.1 box scheduled and running successfully every day. However when trying to conduct any file restores from the backups, to the client, I receive an error dialog once I go
through motions from the Dashboard:
On the 'Devices' tab, right-click the appropriate client and select 'Restore files or folders for the computer'
'Restore Files of Folders' dialog pops up, asking me to 'Choose a backup' from the list of all the backups that have run
Select any one in the list - have tried numerous backups; automatic, manual, etc. same result every time
Brings up the dialog to 'Choose a volume', choose either C: or D: partitions of the same fixed drive - again, no difference which one I choose, the outcome is the same
'Opening the volume' dialog starts, with progress bar, runs to about 4% complete the pops up the dialog 'The restore process did not succeed'. Full error in the dialog, "The restore process did not succeed because your computer cannot connect to the
server. Make sure that the computer is connected to the networkm and then try again
If my computer cannot connect to the server - how can I get that far? How can I open the dashboard, select a client, select from a list of backups, select a volume to restore, etc. What is going on here?

Hi,
Please check if a "host" entry for the server is added to the client. For more detailed information, please refer to the threads below:
Unable to Restore files or folders from a Client Backup
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/d1d001bd-20c5-4f09-861d-526c31567963/unable-to-restore-files-or-folders-from-a-client-backup
Can't restore anything
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/98e269b5-2bd1-449e-a213-e386ae15266f/cant-restore-anything?forum=winserveressentials
Regards,
Mandy
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.

Can't connect Windows 8.1 Enperprise to Windows Server 2012 Essentials. Get a Digest Login page and then a Blank with HTTP 404 Error page. Need help!

Hi,
I have make a new and clean install of Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials on my office network server and then i made a new and clean install of Windows 8.1 Enterprise version on one of my office desktops.
After all VPN and Anywhere Access where setup on the server i when to a PC that is inside my office network and browse on Internet Explorer to the URL to connect this PC to the server and make it part of the domain.
But when i browse to the http://MYSERVERNAME/connect im not getting the Windows Server page with the option to download the windows connector. Instead i get a login pop-up saying "iexplore" and "digest". I try to create a user on the server
and use that user login details on this login box, but even then, the only thing i get is a blank page saying a HTTP Error 404.
So can someone please help me on this? Any advice on how to solve this problem in order to show the normal Windows Server connect page?
Thanks

Hi,
Based on your description, please refer to following operations and troubleshoot this issue. Then check if
can help us to narrow down the cause of this issue.
Please type
http://server-IP-address/connect in IE. Then check if encounter the same issue.
On the Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, please open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager. Navigate to Sites, then right click Default Web Site and select
Edit Bindings… In Site Bindings, select Port 80 and click “Edit…” button. Would you please provide a screenshot of the Edit Site Binding (Port 80) that you can see?
Then please click
Connect which in the list of Default Web Site. In the mid panel, select
.NET Authorization Rules and double click it. Then please check if all users were allowed.
By the way, would you please provide a screenshot of the login page when you browser
http://servername/connect? It may help me to understand this issue clearly.
Meanwhile, please logon a problematic client computer and navigate to the path: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows
Server\Logs folder. Then check if there is Computerconnector log file. If there is, please check it if can find some clues. (Please note: the log file is a hidden file. Please open Control Panel, select Folder Options, select View tab and check Show hidden
files, folders and drives. Then you will be able to find the log file.)
If any update, please feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials Trial Key - Did I miss it, too?

I tried both "Windows Server 2012 Essentials" and "Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials". Here is the link to the page I downloaded the images:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2012-essentials
The following are the respective links to the images I used which were provided by the above webpage:
http://care.dlservice.microsoft.com/dl/download/1/2/9/129AEC4F-1C6C-44B2-9B61-77935E8AB1F4/WindowsServer2012Essentials-English-Install.iso
http://care.dlservice.microsoft.com/dl/download/8/F/7/8F7024D2-AB2A-4BE2-8406-1E3AC49C5C1F/9600.16384.WINBLUE_RTM.130821-1623_X64FRE_SERVER_SOLUTION_EN-US-IRM_SSSO_X64FRE_EN-US_DV5.ISO
I tried burning these images to DVD and booting my Intel NUC with resulting disc. Setup goes fine but it asks me for a product key. I have not received any mail nor was there any pointers to a product key. This is why I tried both R1 and R2.
I found a similar post here regarding this issue (in fact I found a couple):
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/windowsserver/en-US/db7fd5b9-f58d-4456-86cf-816ec91ded14/windows-server-2012-trial-key-did-i-miss-it
But the answers were unsatisfactory, so please do not give me the same response.
Just in case the question/directive comes up, I redownloaded and re-burned the images using sector verification. There are no checksums posted on the site so who knows if something got broken while downloading it, but I find it extremely unlikely that
a few bad sector would cause the intaller to forget its evaluation key rather than borking the whole installer.
Further note that I tried "Windows Server 2012 R2" (standard / non-essentials) and that image correctly had the trial versions baked in. So, I would bet dollars to donuts the problem lies in the images not in a download / burn failure.
I want to use the new NUC as a central content/backup server for all the home computers which are unfortunately growing at bunny reproduction rates. Since Windows Home Server was discontinued, I was pointed to Server 2012 R2 as the alternative / upsell.
Let me know if this is the case or if a better-fit product exists.
Also, is the "Essentials" install a simply a licensing matter (e.g., 25 user cap) or is it more fundamentally crippled than the standard version? I am only a home enthusiast and so not really interested in using the product in a production environment.
I only want some ensurance that if I download "standard", I can put in an "essentials" key at the end of evaluation. If not, then please point me to a correct "Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials" trial image.
Thanks,
Ryan

Hi Ryan,
à
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-windows-server-2012-essentials
We can find following description from this TechNet Evaluation Center website. Then please check if you can
find product key.
In addition, for Windows Server 2012 Essentials, please check if you can use
HHRHF-YMNJW-RPGCC-VV68W-BWMVY. For Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials, please check if you can use
R9N79-23MWD-MBP9B-KHF8Q-C36WX.
If any update, please feel free to let me know.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Migration of Windows Small Business Server 2003 to Windows Server 2012 Essentials

Hi,
I am trying to migrate Windows Small Business Server 2003 to Windows Server 2012 Essentials by following the steps given in the link below:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200112.aspx
I have looked at other threads on the forum but none of them have been too helpful.
The issue: When
I run the Migration Preparation Tool on the Source Server, it runs successfully and does not report any errors. However, when I try installing Windows Server 2012 Essentials on the Destination Server, it displays an error that says 'Source
Server not prepared for migration: After you run the Migration Preparation Tool successfully on your source Server, click retry'.
The Source Server has 2 network adapters-one for the local network and the other for connection to the internet and the router is set as the default gateway this adapter.
Since it is mentioned in the documentation - 'configure your Source Server to use one network adapter', I'm wondering if this is the issue and I need to make changes in this configuration?
On running the Microsoft IT Environment Health Scanner tool it
reported an error - 'DNS Server listening on multiple addresses' and a warning ‘Domain Controller listening on multiple addresses’. Both point to the same solution KB 272294 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272294).
But it did not remove the errors.
Other steps performed:
As per the steps, I performed a backup, installed recent service packs and synchronized the source server time with external source.
On running the Best Practices Analyser. It shows 3 warnings.
- The threshold for the Allocated Memory alert is set to the default value. However the server has more than 2 GB of RAM installed.
- Microsoft Outlook Client not installed" Text="Microsoft Outlook Client is not installed in the ClientApps folder. You must run Windows SBS integrated setup.
- The MSFW instance should use the latest available service pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2000. The MSFW instance should use the latest available service pack for Microsoft SQL Server 2000.
I also ran the Ran netdiag.exe, dcdiag.exe commands
and no failures were reported.
The Event Viewer does not show any errors.
Not sure to what extent these warnings would affect the migration.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

The SBS2003 needs to use one NIC only so you'll need to change that before starting. If it is the premium version and has ISA server installed, that will need to be removed first. See:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2011/07/01/sbs-2011-standard-migrations-keys-to-success.aspx
-- Al

Windows Server Essentials error occurred while configuring on Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

am attempting to install the Windows Server Essentials on a new domain controller in a new domain and forest. I go to add roles and features and select essentials. The config wizard says it is Updating and Preparing the Server and
That is all the information that you need to provide. Your server is being prepared for use and may restart more than once. This may take up to 30 minutes.
It goes to 3% and the encounters an error saying An error occurred while configuring Windows Server Essentials. Please try again. I don't seem to find anything in the log to indicate why it fails.

Hi boe_d,
Based on your description, did you mean that this error was occurred in process of installing the Windows Server
Essentials Experience Role on Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard? If I misunderstand, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
If it is, have you re-tried the role installation? Please check if still go to 3% and then get the same error
message.
In addition, please add
ServerAdmin$ account to the Logon as a service Group Policy, and then monitor the result. For more details, please refer to the following article.
You may be unable to run post-deployment configuration wizard after you install the Windows Server Essentials
Experience role
http://blogs.technet.com/b/sbs/archive/2013/12/04/you-may-be-unable-to-run-post-deployment-configuration-wizard-after-you-install-the-windows-server-essentials-experience-role.aspx
If this issue still exists, please navigate to: %windir%\Logs\CBS folder and check the CBS log file if you
can find any error that depend on the Essentials Experience Role setup time.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
Justin Gu

Access Database (.mdb) on Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials

Hi guys, thanks for your time!
SCENARIO:
- Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
- Windows 7 Ultimate Clients (3 clients)
- VB6 application on clients using a MS Database (.mdb) hosted on the server.
- Clients access the database (.mdb) via a mapped network drive (K:).
PROBLEM:
- Microsoft Database (.mdb) on server gets corrupted frequently.
- Clients don't "flush their changes" back to the database: database was not updated.
WORKAROUND:
- Database was moved from the server to one of the Windows 7 clients.
- Application is running OK.
CONFIGURATION:
- Permissions are correct: network and NTFS.
- No faulty network hardware: switch, cabling, NICs.
- Computers and Server hardware is new.
- UPS are used everywhere.
SOME LINKS:
SMB 3.0
- Opportunistic Locking and Read Caching on Microsoft Windows Networks.
- Windows 7 cannot
open the shared MS Access database if it's opened by another user
- Initializing the
Microsoft Jet 4.0 Database Engine Driver
- Moved to
Server 2012 getting Access Database Corruption
Oplocks
- Configuring
opportunistic locking in Windows
- Understanding
offline files
- How to
enable and disable SMBv1, SMBv2, and SMBv3
- Is it possible to
monitor and log actual queries against an Access MDB?
Now, server is useless if it is not hosting our database. Any ideas, please? Do I need to diagnose using Wireshark? Or using Sysinternals Process Monitor? I think that is a waste of time.
Thank you!

Thanks for your reply.
Software is from a 3rd party provider. It currently supports concurrency. It was deployed on Windows XP. SQL Server would be a nice upgrade, however that is
not an option.
Something has changed with newer versions of Windows. That is what I am going to study in a lab I prepared with a real server and some clients.
File-sharing databases (Microsoft JET databases) are very old technology even before I was a college student. However, I have been very busy researching this technology.
It was made for multi-user environments. It is highly tied to file sharing services from Windows: SMB protocol.
Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8 use different versions of this protocol. I think that is the root of the problem. With old technology, application was running fine.
With new technology, application is troublesome. I will check several things: JET drivers vs. ACE drivers, SMB tweaks, etc.
UPDATE:
Basically, there are 4 general answers to this issue:
1) Migrate your Access Database to SQL Server Express (or another RDBMS engine).
2) @Server: disable SMB 2.0/3.0 protocol stack by powershell command. Network speed decreases.
3) @Clients: disable client redirector caches by using regedit.
4) @Server: disable the leasing on the file server.
5) @Server: tuning Broadcom NIC parameters.
References:
- https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff686200(WS.10).aspx
- https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365433(v=vs.85).aspx
- http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/Q_28482197.html
- http://tipsntricks.sherr.co.uk/stop-smb-corrupting-files/
- http://www.dataaccess.com/whitepapers/opportunlockingreadcaching.html
- https://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/windowsserver/en-US/67baa9fd-5eaf-438e-9cc4-dc1a531b9e19/disabling-oplocksmb2-vs-fileinfocachelifetime
- https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windowsserver/en-US/7336d31b-6c24-468a-9c47-750244ae3a8c/moved-to-server-2012-getting-access-database-corruption
- https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/e9567167-22db-4b8c-9f96-a08b97d507f9/server-2012-r2-file-server-stops-responding-to-smb-connections
- http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2957623
- http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2899011
- http://support2.microsoft.com/kb/2955164
- https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/7bd0aa5b-eb95-40a8-a56d-c6013273665c/extremely-slow-smb-network-speed-server-2012-r2?forum=winserver8gen

Windows SBS 2003 to Server 2012 Essentials R2

I am tasked with upgrading from an existing SBS 2003 server to 2012 R2 Essentials. Currently the 2012 box is on the network, fresh install but I'm encountering issues from there. I joined it to the domain and now when it boots up it goes through the process
of configuring it to the domain. However, it simply stops with the error "Configuration Encountered Some Issues". Could someone provide some guidance? Thanks!
The only error I can find related to it is:
Log Name: Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment/Deploy
Source: Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment
Date: 2/8/2015 10:34:21 PM
Event ID: 130
Task Category: None
Level: Error
Keywords:
User: SNL\halo
Computer: Server2012.snl.local
Description:
Unexpected error occured: System.Management.Automation.CmdletInvocationException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container ---> System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.DirectoryEntryExtensions.GetNewChildName(DirectoryEntry container, String preferredName)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.WellKnownStandaloneMsa.Initialize(Domain domain, DirectoryEntry master, Guid wkguid, String preferredName, DirectoryEntry& entry, String& connectedServer)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.InitializeServiceAccount()
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.UseServiceAccount(NetworkCredential credential)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InitialConfigurationHelper.StartInitialConfiguration(PSCredential credential, Dictionary`2 data)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InvokeEssentialsConfigureServiceCommand.ProcessRecord()
at System.Management.Automation.CommandProcessor.ProcessRecord()
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.EndInvoke(IAsyncResult asyncResult)
at Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.ServerEssentials.Plugin.RemotePSHelper.InvokeRoleConfigurationCommand(String command, IDictionary`2 parameters, Func`1 isCancellationRequested, Action`1 onProgress)
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
<System>
<Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment" Guid="{AD9FC988-EB6F-43AF-9429-7BCDB78A7663}" />
<EventID>130</EventID>
<Version>0</Version>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Opcode>0</Opcode>
<Keywords>0x8000000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2015-02-09T03:34:21.429892000Z" />
<EventRecordID>180</EventRecordID>
<Correlation ActivityID="{E85BC2B0-4415-0000-D0C2-5BE81544D001}" />
<Execution ProcessID="3140" ThreadID="2628" />
<Channel>Microsoft-Windows-ServerEssentials-Deployment/Deploy</Channel>
<Computer>Server2012.snl.local</Computer>
<Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3716708206-3900771979-3496404321-1138" />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data Name="Message">System.Management.Automation.CmdletInvocationException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container ---> System.ArgumentNullException: Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: container
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.DirectoryEntryExtensions.GetNewChildName(DirectoryEntry container, String preferredName)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ActiveDirectory.WellKnownStandaloneMsa.Initialize(Domain domain, DirectoryEntry master, Guid wkguid, String preferredName, DirectoryEntry& entry, String& connectedServer)
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.InitializeServiceAccount()
at Microsoft.WindowsServer.Essentials.ServerSetup.ServerSetupMsaHelper.UseServiceAccount(NetworkCredential credential)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InitialConfigurationHelper.StartInitialConfiguration(PSCredential credential, Dictionary`2 data)
at Microsoft.WindowsServerSolutions.Setup.Commands.InvokeEssentialsConfigureServiceCommand.ProcessRecord()
at System.Management.Automation.CommandProcessor.ProcessRecord()
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.Management.Automation.PowerShell.EndInvoke(IAsyncResult asyncResult)
at Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.ServerEssentials.Plugin.RemotePSHelper.InvokeRoleConfigurationCommand(String command, IDictionary`2 parameters, Func`1 isCancellationRequested, Action`1 onProgress)</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Hi Kieran S,
As Robert mentioned, did you refer to any migration guide?
Migrate from Previous Versions to Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials or Windows Server Essentials Experience
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials Migration – Keys to Success
-->it simply stops with the error "Configuration Encountered Some Issues".
Please refer to Paul's suggestion and check if help you to solve this configuration issue. In addition, you can also refer to following KB.
The Post-Deployment Configuration task may fail after you install the Windows Server Essentials Experience role on Windows Server 2012 R2
If any update, please feel free to let us know.
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]
Those two links were very helpful! Way better than the one I was referencing. I ended up having to manually do a adprep /forestprep before the wizard would work. All is well now, thanks!

Windows Server 2012 Essentials Connector version is more current than server

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