I still think P2V conversions are cool, and I’ve been doing them since version 3! It seems though every time I try and do one with the standalone converter though I get this error;
VMware vCenter Converter Standalone
Unable to complete installation/uninstallation of converter agent on ‘{target}’
Solution
I always spend five minutes messing with firewalls, checking remote registry services, credentials, and the fix is nearly always the same;
Locate VMware-Converter-Agent.exe in C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware vCenter Converter Standalone, copy it to the target machine, and install it manually. Then try the conversion again.
If it gets this far, your problem is solved.
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Seen today while installing Veeam 6.5 Backup and Recovery on Windows Server 2008 R2
The setup was unable to install new instance of Microsoft SQL server. Make sure this server meets minimum system requirements, or try installing it manually.
Solution
1. Press Windows Key+R > appwiz.cpl {enter} > Uninstall ALL references to SQL Server and Veeam (Warning: Obviously if the server is using SQL, SQL Express or MSDE for another reason then DON’T DO THIS).
2. Download and install SQL Express (SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe). Run the install and select default instance (accept the default name). I set the database for mixed mode authentication but you will probably be OK with Windows authentication.
3. This time it should complete without error.
4. Now run the Veeam setup again, and it will detect the already installed instance and run through without error.
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Have you installed the VI client on Windows 10? My boss asked me this week, I replied no, but if it didn’t work then loads of people would soon be moaning. I remember sometime ago I had to use comparability mode to install it on Windows 8. I had the brainwave, “Why not ThinApp the client” it would work then, but the 5.5 client stubbornly refused to fire and the ThinApp package size was enormous.
So using the manual process I had used to try and ThinApp it on Windows 8, I pulled down Windows 10 from MSDN and tried it on that, successfully.
Disclaimer: Yes you should be using the VMware web client, but what if it’s a standalone ESXi server?
Speaking of which, the web client will not currently run in ‘Spartan’, (yes flash is enabled).
But it runs in Internet Explorer 11, which is still in Windows 10.
Solution
Anyway we want the ‘Fat’ VMware client, here I’m using 5.5 (build 1618071). Which I have downloaded to the desktop.
1. The install EXE file is actually an archive with the installation files within it, to open that archive I’m going to use 7Zip, download and install that first.
2. Now I can open the archive and navigate around the folder structure inside.
3. Locate and extract the actual VI client install file (in the bin folder).
4. VI client requires .Net 3.5 the install file for that is in the redist folder.
5. Finaly it also requires Visual J#, you will find that in redistvjredist directory locate the 32 or 64 bit version as applicable, and extract that also.
6. Install the .Net 3.5 first, Then install Visual J#.
7. Then on the properties of the extracted setup file >properties > Compatibility > Run as Windows 7 > Apply > OK.
8. I also launched by right clicking and selecting ‘Run as Administrator’, but I don’t think that’s necessary. When done launch the application.
9. All being well, you should be able to log in as normal.
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I wanted the RSAT tools installing on a Windows 8 machine today, I downloaded the RSAT update and ran it, but the tools did not appear? Also they were not available under ‘Turn Windows features on or off’.
Solution
As it turns out, even though it says ‘Installation complete’ that’s not the same as Installation Successful (cheers Microsoft!). It is actually failing in the background, because this machine does not have the English (United States) language pack installed.
1. Press Windows Key+X > Control Panel > Change the View to ‘Small Icons’ > Language.
2. Add a language.
3. Under ‘E’ > English > English (United States) > Add.
4. Make sure you click the link to download and install language pack.
5. It’s over 150MB so it may take a while.
6. When installed, reinstall the Windows RSAT package for Windows 8, and this time it should be there!
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