Windows Server Latest Topics

DirectX Addendum for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 16:27:52 +0000

DirectX Addendum for Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2

Microsoft only included partial DirectX functionality in Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2
This Addendum will restore full functionality by installing Xinput1_4.dll, XInput9_1_0.dll and XAudio2_8.dll respectively from Windows 8.0 and 8.1

Also make sure to install the DirectX June 2010 Redist

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109

The Addendum can be installed before or after the DirectX June 2010 Redist.
The files from the Addendum can also be manually copied to an offline image !

How-to :

- Extract folder "Server 2012" or "Server 2012 R2" depending on your OS
- Right-click on Install.cmd and select "Run as administrator"
- Follow the on-screen instructions !
- Done !

Credits

Allukend from the now defunct http://www.win2012workstation.com/ website for the original script

Alternative MediaFire Download Link :

https://www.mediafire.com/file/7tdsy5v2u1gqkw2/DX_ADDENDUM.rar/file

MSFN Download Link :

DX_ADDENDUM.rar

The default gateway is not available (Win Server 2012)

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:27:59 +0000

We are using Dell server virtual machines in VMware. I restarted the Dell server and then all our virtual machines started one by one, but unfortunately, our WSUS server is showing no internet. It shows in the domain but the internet is not working.

I tried to reset the LAN adapter by disabling/enabling it, restarted the machine twice, and troubleshooted by clicking on “Troubleshoot problems” but with no success. After troubleshooting, it shows

“The default gateway is not available”.

I checked the DNS server, virtual machine entry is there. I cannot ping this server.

I removed the ethernet cable from the Dell server and plugged it in again, now it shows the internet, but when I open any website, it does not open. After some time again it shows NO INTERNET.

I can access shared folders from here.

I cannot take remote access to this VM from other machines.

I can ping other machines from this server machine.

I can take remote access to other machines from this machine using both the machine name and IP.

From this VM, I can ping other machines but when I try to ping the default gateway, it shows

Request timed out

Destination host unreachable

Request timed out

Destination host unreachable

Any solution plz.

2024-02 and 2024-03 updates for Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2?

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:51:12 +0000

Hello, I want to tell something that seemed strange to me in the Windows Update catalog, I find updates for the Windows Server 2008 (based on Vista) and 2008 R2 (based on 7) operating systems that finished their fourth and last year of esu in January 2024.
Although Microsoft did not extend the ESU for these systems for a fifth year, new monthly updates appear in the catalog. Something very strange, since Microsoft releases patches to an unsupported system only in extreme cases like when wannacry happened, for example.

Preferred version of Windows Server?

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 22:07:50 +0000

I recently purchased a Dell PowerEdge R720 and I'm wondering what people would use on it. I would happily use Proxmox, but because of some problems with the drives i'm using and how they are setup, Windows Server would be an easier option. What would you use? I'm considering 2019, but wondering if 2012 R2 would be a better option.

What are your preferred versions of Windows Server for a Sandy Bridge-era Intel system?

2008 R2: Somewhat slow disk access

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 22:06:18 +0000

Has anybody noticed that Windows NT 6.1 (2008 R2 x64) has a slower hard disk access compared to Windows 2003 (XP)? I have a dual boot configuration on the same computer and I notice a curious difference. When I open an image in IrfanView for the first time there is a short pause. But there is an even bigger pause when updating tags of FLAC files in Foobar2000. FLAC files contain a reserved space and only one or two disk clusters need to be written to update a tag. But if I queue an update to a hundred files, it takes around 2 seconds. On Windows 2003 the operation completes almost instantly. The difference reminds me when back in DOS SmartDrv wasn't loaded. Not as dramatic, but significant.

Does Windows 2003 (XP) do the disk writes in the background after returning immediately, and Windows 2008 does not do it for some safety reason?

The settings in Device Manager are default:

Removal policy: Better performance (default)

Enable write caching on the device: Yes.

Turn off Windows write-cache buffer flushing on this device: No (this is new)

State Of Windows Server In 2023-beyond?

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 17:54:14 +0000

as one of the most powerfull versions of windows server is what has kept older windows versions going (like server 2008 for windows vista and server 2012 for windows 8) and has helped in continuing to support legacy windows version for years so my question is will windows server still be usefully in 2023-beyond?

Cloning Windows 2008 onto a new disk

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 16:41:04 +0000

I've cloned my system disk to a larger drive. The new drive won't boot. Apparently I need to convince the OS that the drive partitions are the same. The cloned volumes are exact same size with same serial numbers. I recall I need to go into the registry and edit DosDevices.

What complicates the setup is that I have Windows 2008 R2 with its new complicated BCD bootloader. I'm posting here because the problem is mainly with NT6 that I know little about. I can only edit the BCD while having booted into Windows 7 (not from a boot CD) with BOOTICE, and it refers to different drive letters of the current system. I do not want to edit the present system with Microsoft tools, but the cloned one. The new disk is currently connected to a secondary SATA controller. I don't know if it matters to how the BCD sees it.

• Partition 0 4GB: BCD boot loader, Windows 2003 SP2; C: for NT5, B: for NT6

• Partition 1 24GB: Windows 2008 R2; C: for NT6, B: for NT5

Neither of these would boot with a message from the BCD boot loader. The NT5 is never loaded.

What steps do I need to perform to complete the clone?

Upgrading/cloning mirrored disks

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 10:48:35 +0000

Hey, forum!

I have:

Mainboard (legacy BIOS (no UEFI etc.))
Windows Server 2012 R2 (x64)
2 x 500GB disks (Windows server "software" mirror) Dynamic and contains 1 x System reserved partition (NTFS) @ 5GB, 1 x 1GB unallocated partition & 1 x (NTFS (C: and contains boot, page file and crash dump)).

Everything works fine and the 2 disks are error free, but I'm running out of disk space so I need to upgrade.

I have 2 x 1000GB disks ready to be installed, how do I clone (with CloneZilla, Ghost or similar software) this setup?

Do I have to break the mirror first and if so how to do that properly (remove or break)?

Any special parameters to use with cloning software?

Do I have to connect the new drives to the current setup and boot Windows in order for the new drives to be installed/recognized (before cloning)?

TIA!

Server 2022, The Worst Buggy Server OS

Thu, 12 May 2022 00:41:59 +0000

So 2 days ago, I do Server 2022 installation and see what MS do with it but this OS fells boring and buggy mess. Explorer keeps crashing for no reason. UAC hasn't been changed (aka same as Windows 11). Windows (M$) Store is not available by default. This is the 3rd time M$ used Windows 10 as Windows Server. I wish M$ made updates for Server 2022 to similar like Windows 11. Cortana is not available too. M$ used Edge chromium (not legacy Edge)

Even group policy can't stop updates.

Wed, 12 May 2021 15:30:18 +0000

Group Policy states that automatic updates are DISABLED but it still installed them anyway. It installed the May 2021 cumulative on one of my Server 2019 systems.

How can I get a Windows Server 2012 (not R2) ISO?

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 13:09:40 +0000

Hello,

I have ISOs for every Windows Server release except for Server 2012 and I can't seem to find one for Server 2012. Does anyone know where I can download a Server 2012 RTM (Build 9200) ISO?

Windows Server 2012 R2 on Surface Pro 6 not detecting networks.

Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:33:54 +0000

Hello,
I have a Surface Pro 6 and Windows 8.1 did not work on there, so I installed Windows Server 2012 R2 (which is the server version of 8.1). I have tried to install the network driver for 8.1, but I get an error saying "The system cannot find the file specified". Snappy Driver Installer did not detect the driver.

Here is the hardware info:
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_2B38&SUBSYS_045E0008&REV_00
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_2B38&SUBSYS_045E0008
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_2B38&CC_020000
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_2B38&CC_0200
PCI\VEN_11AB&DEV_2B38&REV_00
PCI\VEN_11AB&CC_020000
PCI\VEN_11AB&CC_0200
PCI\VEN_11AB
PCI\CC_020000&DT_0
PCI\CC_020000
PCI\CC_0200&DT_0
PCI\CC_0200

Trying to get an iMac to connect with a windowsNT pc.

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 18:11:07 +0000

Been trying to get the iMac to connect with a windowsNT 4 pc. The iMac shows up in network neighborhood, but when I double click on the iMac get an error message - "\\imac is not accessible. The network path was not found.

From the windowsNT PC, I can successfully ping the iMac by name and IP address, and can ping from the PC from the iMac. This is how the iMac sharing is configured:

- have a public folder set as the shared folder, with everyone identified as having read and write privileges
- under sharing/options,"share files and folders using SMB (Windows) is selected
- below that, have the "on" button checked for the accounts I have on the iMac.

I have tried to connect to systems running Mac OS Sierra, High Sierra, 2 x Mojave and Catalina

Microsoft Edge Chromium keeps closing on Windows Server 2012 R2

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 01:32:46 +0000

I've tried both the consumer and enterprise version of Edge but they keep randomly closing. Is there any fixes or should I just use a different browser?

Activate audio in Windows Server 2019 and olders with a batch file.

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 09:00:49 +0000

I tried to install Windows Server 2019 on VMware and the installation was successfully completed. VMware created me a virtual floppy disk and a .flp floppy image. I mounted that floppy image on my physical PC with Win10 and OSFMount. I added to the floppy disk iimage a batch file which just initialize audio service and a shortcust which you can run easily pressing a combination of keys. The thing is that the stuff don't work as I wanted. I'm not sure if it's because audio drivers are missing. What could be added to the batch file in order to make possible that the audio would work?

autoinst.7z

updates for server 2008 r2

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 21:59:36 +0000

Hi I was wondering if there is a repository for server 2008 r2 updates because windows update gives an error every time thanks.

Does anyone have KB2483177 for Windows Server 2008 R2?

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 08:30:36 +0000

It appears to have been pulled from Microsoft Download Center, and Microsoft Update Catalog.

This page still exists though

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2483177/fix-you-cannot-play-back-an-h-264-video-file-or-an-aac-audio-file-on-a

Microsoft is bringing IE11 to Windows server 2012

Mon, 28 Jan 2019 18:55:11 +0000

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Windows-IT-Pro-Blog/Bringing-Internet-Explorer-11-to-Windows-Server-2012-and-Windows/ba-p/325297#.XE9Oz0NGS30.twitter

Windows Advanced Server 2019 GUI mode issue

Sat, 28 Mar 2020 18:19:19 +0000

I run windows advanced server 2019 and I play a steam game called vega conflict by kixeye.

It works for all windows including advanced server 2016. But not advanced server 2019.

Its my home server system and i'd like to hear issues people have with theirs.

The GUI should run like windows 10 as far as i'm aware.

I remember there were issues with advanced server 2016 like this.

Also i have an AMD server graphics accelerator card that won't work with my gpu card.

AMD R7 360 will not load its driver with AMD FirePro s9100 on same system.

I'd like to at least utilise my server gpu to run virtual graphics acceleration on hyper v but it doesn't accelerate.

the server pc allocates system ram to the virtual gpu even though theres a purpose built gpu card with 12gb ram.

DVD Maker on Server 2008?

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 09:09:30 +0000

Comments on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQF7i8kK2nI

So I've tried the same thing except I'm still getting the MPEG-2 encoder missing message. I've tried looking for MPEG-2 encoders although all I found were decoders which after I installed them, didn't do that much effect on the error. I've tried registering the MSMPEG DLL files from Vista using regsvr32 which didn't work. Regsvr32 couldn't register the DLLs. Can anybody guide me on how this is done?

Storage Spaces and Raid6 - or BTRFS for Windows?

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 22:20:32 +0000

Hi,

i'm at the moment experimenting with my shiny new Windows Server 2016 Essentials.

For some reasons, i do not have the option to run a hardware raid, so i have to use the Microsoft Software Raid (tm).

I use six drives a 1TB (Intel p660 NVMe PCIe).

Ok, using Software Raid 5 obviously is not a problem, let's ignore this, that's not what i have in mind.

I'm talking about Raid 6.

Well, there is no such thing...

Or is it?

One option is "Storage Spaces", which is supposed to allow parity for TWO failed drives.

Unfortunately, Microsoft seems to always need another, third drive, for so-called "global parity".

This is a waste of one expensive drive... but for one singular server, "global" parity is not needed anyway.

Could that be configured to not use that "global parity drive"? And if: How?

Does anyone have some experience with storage spaces? Can it be used on Essentials in the first place?

Another option is BTRFS for Windows: https://github.com/maharmstone/btrfs

Anyone into such experimental things?

(P.S.: Yes, i do backups, twice: MS Backup local onto a USB-Drive, and important files into some encrypted cloud-storage. Just in case you're asking...)

Cheers,

Ragnar G.D.

P.S.: The Server (using 28W in idle):

- ASRock Rack X470D4U2-T2 https://www.asrockrack.com/general/productdetail.asp?Model=X470D4U2-2T#Specifications

- Ryzen 3 1200

- 16GB Ram non-ECC

- 2x SanDisk Ultra II 240GB, running as Raid 1 (SATA-Onboard FakeRaid) for the OS

- 2x Asus HYPER M.2 X16 CARD V2 https://www.asus.com/Motherboard-Accessories/HYPER-M-2-X16-CARD-V2/

- 6x Intel 660p NVMe 1TB, two each in the Asus cards, two on the MoBo

- linked to a MikroTik 10G Switch (passive cooling, 8-port SFP+ with some Transceivers for RJ45, 1 port 1Gbit RJ45). Yes, i have machines that eat/feed 10Gbit of bandwith with their NVMe drives... ;-)

Storage spaces with vhdx inside

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:48:16 +0000

I just had a question of whether this is a good practice or not. It seems to work fine but I've only short term tested. I will have 4 physical disk that I will make a mirrored storage space pool formatted refs. Pool will be 8tb physical and I'm going to set it to 32tb for future expansion. I then want to make 2 vhdx drives within this. Each vhdx will be set to 16tb. I can obviously keep an eye of the physical storage being used and add 2 drives at a time when needed. What I have a concern about is the vhdx inside the refs pool. Vhdx is formatted ntfs. Do I get the benefits of refs while using this setup or is this just a totally wrong setup?

User Profile Service Error

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 22:12:05 +0000

Hello I have been having this problem when I create a user account in Windows Server 2008, when a user log on or another admin they get this message when the log onto a Windows 2007 professional client

Error: User Profile Service

there was a problem with your roaming profile you have been logged on with your previously saved local profile. Please see the event log for details or contact your administrators.

Can anyone help it doesnt happen to all the profiles only some

Some sites do not load in routing and remote access

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 16:35:41 +0000

In Windows Server 2003 on the client all sites loaded correctly while in Windows Server 2008 onwards some sites do not load on remote and routing access clients, for me it is solved with some updates or by changing some configuration within the server, I need it in Windows Server 2008 SP2.

Win Server 2008R2 Remote Desktop License Program

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 07:29:02 +0000

Hi All,

I've just activated my Server 2008R2 RDS server and I'm ready to install device cals from my open license agreement. When I right click on my server in RD Licensing Manager and select Install Licenses I'm presented with the Install Licenses Wizard, however the License Program states it's set to "License Pack (Retail Purchase)".

I could have sworn in the past I've been presented with an option to select the type of license agreement I have. If someone could offer some help that'd be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Swain90