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Mark Kaye

WSE 2016 corrupted - looking for in-place migration solution

My current OS is corrupted. Everything seems OK except windows updates i.e. server/client backups work & adding computers to domain. I cloned the HD to an SSD back in Sept 2020, somewhere along the line after that updates stopped (~2 yrs ago) - i have tried a multitude of solutions, but nothing has worked.

  • sfc fails because Trusted Module Installer won't run
  • Dism fails - says OS is 10.0 14393.4169 - registry says servicingstack is .5001
  • running setup.exe from USB ISO to do upgrade fails before 1st reboot
  • i cloned the original HD from 2020 to a new SSD - windows updates work, but i can't add any computers to my domain and server backup fails

i know the correct solution is new hardware and migrate my instance over but was wondering if there was a way i could use disk2vhd for my current OS and somehow start a new install on the same hardware (new SSD) and migrate my instance over from the VM? Another solution i thought of would be to clone my existing OS, put it into my old desktop (different hardware), hope it comes up OK, if so, new install on current hardware and migrate instance over, if it fails i can just boot my corrupted OS disk and continue as i am

asked12/18/2023 18:27
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Mark Kaye

Prepare source server...

Install the most recent service packs

You must install the latest updates and service packs on the Source Server prior to migration.

i haven't been able to do windows updates for almost 2 years

will this be a showstopper?

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Mariette Knap

If your user data is on a different partition or drive, so not on the boot partition, you can migrate the AD to another VM (on a laptop or desktop) and do a clean install of Windows Server 2016 Essentials on the existing hardware and then migrate the AD back. Obviously you need to also migrate share info and possibly other stuff from the old server installation. But you should understand that Windows Server Essentials 2016 does not have proper support anymore and extended support ends next year.

A much better solution is to migrate to Windows Server 2022.

Mark Kaye

yes, all my data is on other disks. i know just enough to be dangerous, just a 1-man company. Server 2022 may be the best option, but i like the essentials dashboard, makes things easier for me. i am looking at following this:

Step 2: Install Windows Server Essentials as a new replica domain controller | Microsoft Learn

so, in a nutshell

  • new install on old desktop, migrate AD, demote original server
  • new install on my original server hardware, migrate AD from desktop, demote desktop
  • fix server folders, other software etc

i should have all my computers on my domain (may have to fix trust relationship?) and everything should be working

Mark

 

replied 12/20/2023 19:14
Mariette Knap

Well, yes and no. If you do an AD migration you should not have to fix trust relationships at all. BTW, the documentation you refer to is meant for skilled and trained IT people.

replied 12/21/2023 05:15
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Last Activity 03/07/2024 05:39

2 Answer(s)

  • Mariette Knap

    The best way to fix this issue is to migrate to Windows Server 2022. That does not have the dashboard but anything you can do on a Windows Server Essentials 2016 can be done on a Windows Server 2022. Investing time and effort in something that is no longer supported soon (WSE2016 expires in 2025) is not a good decision.

    You can get one of our migration kits from here Windows Server 2016 migration kits.

    answered 12/21/2023 05:18
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  • Mark Kaye

    i haven't addressed a solution yet, however, maybe trying to save my current OS just isn't worth it

    if i create a new installation of server 2016 and connect my client computers, it will create a new profile for each user

    can i log each new user in to create a new profile, then log in as an administrator and migrate the old profile to the new one with the USMT by pointing at the old user folder?

    answered 03/02/2024 16:29
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    Mariette Knap

    If the old server boots up you can migrate it.

    Reply
    replied 03/07/2024 05:39
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