Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 – Activation Error 0xC004F074
KB ID 0000766 Problem I jumped on a clients remote desktop services server today and saw; However when I went to activate; Windows couldn’t be activated Error Code: 0xC004F074 Error Description:the Software Licensing Service reported that the product could not be activated. No Key Management Service (KMS) could be contacted. Please see the Application Event Log for additional information. Solution Out of the box this version of...
Windows Server 2012 ‘Direct Access with Windows 8’
KB ID 0000842 Problem In the following procedure I’m using Window Server 2012, and Windows 8 Enterprise, I am NOT configuring for Windows 7 so I don’t need to worry about PKI and certificates. (Other than the one the direct access server uses for https identification). I’m not adding in any Application or Infrastructure servers, this is just a basic run through on setting up Direct Access to get you up and running....
WDS Deploying Windows Part 3: Carry Out an Unattended Deployment
KB ID 0000738 Problem In part two we built our reference machine and took an image of it using WDS. Now to automate the deployments we need to create some unattended answer files, these will answer all the questions that the Windows 8 machines will ask while they are building. We will take those files and import them into the WDS server we configured in part one. Finally to make sure everything is working we will deploy Windows 8....
WDS Deploying Windows Part 2: Prepare Windows, and Capture to WDS
KB ID 0000737 Problem In part one we built and configured the WDS Server. Now you need to prepare the reference Windows 8 machine so that you can ‘capture’ its image. Solution Before you start, make sure that the machine you are imaging has PLENTY of room on one of its local drive(s), because it copies the image locally, before it sends it to WDS. Place Your Reference Windows 8 Machine in Audit Mode To put all the software...
WDS Deploying Windows Part 1: Install and Configure WDS
KB ID 0000735 Problem You want to deploy the Windows 8 Client Operating System, to a number of clients using WDS. In this part we will configure the WDS Server, then we will move onto taking an image of your reference Windows 8 machine. Finally we will cover taking that image, and deploying it out to many target systems. Solution Add the WDS Role 1. From Server Manager (ServerManager.exe) > Local Server. 2. Manage > Add Roles...
Windows 8 -“Windows cannot read the setting from the unattend answer file.”
KB ID 0000511 Problem Note: This is applicable to running the Windows 8 Developer Preview in VMware Workstation. When you attempt to power on the machine you see the following error: Install Windows Windows cannot read the <ProductKey> setting from the unattend answer file. Solution 1. Delete your broken virtual machine and create a new one, but this time select “I will install the operating system later” Note: Just...