Upgrading to Windows Server 2008 R2

Just to cover quickly the upgrade of Windows 2008 Server SP2 to the R2 version in 13 steps.

REMEMBER > Plan > Prepare > Update,

This is a GUIDE only and not a recommendation of how you should upgrade so test it first and don’t blame me if it goes horrible, blame the gerbil – if in doubt consult an expert (i.e. not me!)

Using an account that has EA, DA and SA membership (talk about overkill eh…but trust me it wasn’t working without them), you need to run the adprep tools first, ensure the DC you run it on has the Schema Master FSMO role. Follow these steps:

1. Copy the ADPREP folder from W2K8 R2 DVDSupportAdprep to a local volume e.g. E:adprep.

Usual gotcha – make sure you run this from an elevated CMD prompt. Otherwise you get an error about how it cannot check your Group Membership

3. Change directory to where you copied adprep and type in adprep /forestprep

4. Press C and then hit ENTER if you are happy to proceed then it does stuff like below

And more stuff

And some more before it is finished.

5. Excellent, now run the following command

adprep /domainprep /gpprep

Et voila, all preparation tasks finished and you’re ready to roll with the update to R2

6. In the Windows Explorer GUI browse to your WK8 R2 DVD and run setup

7. Click on the annoying UAC prompt to confirm so you can continue then click Install Now, setup starts

Still starts up

8. Click on Do not get the latest updates

Searches for something

9. Seems to have found whatever it was looking for, select Windows Server Standard 2008 R2 Standard (Full Installation) (or whatever is relevant for your upgrade), yeah I know it says Full but worry not it will be doing an Upgrade! Click Next

10. Sign your life away, Click Next

11. See, promised you as much. Click UPGRADE!

12. You’ll get the following compatibility warning…

13. Resolve any issues and then crack on. Otherwise setup will cancel the upgrade for you if any errors are unresolved. Warnings are acceptable!

Then it does stuff, randomly, and also randomly reboots about 3 times!

Oh look, registry still exists…

Is this the final step…

Nope, fooled you, anyone who knows WHY it is copying so many files (nearly a quarter of a million) please email me!

And then it REBOOTS again, third time and counting…

…then like something from a Star Wars movie comes the following

First time use? Eh, i’ve been using this server for nearly a year how can this be the first time!!! Anyway it glows randomly for a little while as it ‘prepares’ for battle. Bit like a ceylon, sorta

There you go, all that effort for that red R2 at the bottom(!)

Anyway, the update is worth it. The interface is now pretty as a picture!

BUT, my RDP would no longer work. Neither would pinging it by IP Address? Has the Firewall for the Domain Profile come back on? NO!

So what happened? Well upon further investigation it seems it lost all the static IP information that had been entered into this DC. WHAT? Why would it do that dear old Microsoft? Renter the STATIC IP info to get the Server back in shape….oh dear(!) hope it doesn’t happen to you!