Error: 0xC004F04D When Activating Windows Using Given Confirmation ID

We were not able to activate the Windows license after we have re-setup a Windows 2012 R2 Server Core.  The below error was given when we tried using the Confirmation ID given by Microsoft Activation Center:

Error: 0xC004F04D On a computer running Microsoft Windows no-core edition, run ‘slui.exe 0x2a 0xC004F04D’ to display the error text.

We logged a call with with Microsoft APAC/GCR 24x7 Customer Service Center.  The support engineer gives the below steps which resolved the activation problem.

 1. Restart the software protection service,

             net stop sppsvc
             net start sppsvc

 2. Uninstall current key,

             cd c:\windows\system32
             cscript.exe slmgr.vbs -upk

 3. Restart the software protection service once again,

             net stop sppsvc
             net start sppsvc

 4. Install the product key again,

             cd c:\windows\system32
             cscript.exe slmgr.vbs -ipk XQ9T2-J7V39-RJJCR-DY2V9-72X9M

 5. Verify if the installation ID has changed or not,

             cd c:\windows\system32
             cscript.exe slmgr.vbs -dlv

     Check if the IID is the same as the initial one.

 6. Try to activate the server in GUI,

             slui 4

     Follow the instruction to enter the confirmation id.

     (If the IID is the same as the initial one, try the same CID one more time.) 

Windows 2012 Server Core: How To Disable And Enable TCP/IPv6?

Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) has not been implemented in our environment.  For server’s network adapters, we would usually disable TCP/IPv6.

At the Powershell prompt, issue the below command to disable TCP/IPv6 for network adapter NIC2:

PS C:\> Disable-NetAdapterBinding -InterfaceAlias NIC2 –ComponentID ms_tcpip6

If the TCP/IPv6 is disabled, you will get this error message when configuring an IP address using SCONFIG:

C:\Windows\System32\en-US\sconfig.vbs(696, 21) SWbemObjectEx: Invalid index.

At the Powershell prompt, issue the below command to enable TCP/IPv6 for network adapter NIC2:

PS C:\> Enable-NetAdapterBinding -InterfaceAlias NIC2 –ComponentID ms_tcpip6

Windows 2012 Server Core: How To Uninstall A Program?

We would like to uninstall a program but we are not able to do it as Server Core does not have the add/remove program feature.

To uninstall a program in Server Core, we have to do the following steps:

1.     Open Editor (Start > Run > regedit).

2.     Navigate to 
             HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL

or

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432NODE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\UNINSTALL.  

3.     Search through the registry entries to look for the program you intend to uninstall.

4.     Look for the “UninstallString” and note down the registry value.  This value will be used as commandline.

5.     Open a command prompt and run the above copied registry value.  It will start to uninstall the intended program.

6.     Navigate back to the registry keys mentioned in step and you will notice that the registry entries you found earlier are no longer there.  Those program files residing in the hard-disk are also gone.

7.     Exit Registry Editor.

Windows 2012 Server Core: How To Install Minimal Server Interface

The Minimal Server Interface includes Microsoft Management Console (MMC), Server Manager, and a subset of Control Panel.  It is similar to a Server with a GUI installation, but Internet Explorer 10, Windows Explorer, the desktop, and the Start screen are not installed.

In order to install Minimal Server Interface on server core, the following steps need to be carried out:

1.    Create a new folder in C:\ drive by issuing the below command at the command prompt:

       C:\> mkdir c:\mount

2.    Put the Windows 2012 DVD into the DVD drive (i.e. D:\)

3.    Open Powershell, then issue the below command to mount the windows image:

       PS C:\> mount-windowsimage –path c:\mount –imagepath d:\sources\install.wim –index 2 -readonly

4.    At the Powershell prompt, issue the below command to install the “Server Graphical Management Tools & Infrastructure” feature on the server core:

       PS C:\> install-windowsfeature server-gui-mgmt-infra –restart –source c:\mount\windows\winsxs

5.    Restart the server after the installation completed.

The Server Manager and command prompt will appear after you login to the server.

Windows 2012 Server Core: How To Get Back The Command Prompt?

Many of us are used to type exit to close off the Command Prompt.  In older versions of the Windows OS, it is easier to get back the Command Prompt.  This is not so for those Server Cores, the Command Prompt will not re-appear even if you tried to logout of the server and logon again.

In order to get back the Command Prompt, the following steps need to be carried out:

1.     Press and hold all the 3 keys; [Ctrl] + left [Shift] + [Esc]

2.     When the Task Manager will opened up, click File > Run new task.

3.     Key cmd and click the OK button

The Command Prompt will then appear.

 

Windows 2012 Server Core: How To Get Windows Explorer?

In order to get the Windows Explorer, the following steps need to be carried out:

1.     Open up the Task Manager by issuing the below command at the command prompt:

C:\taskmgr

2.     Click File > Run new task and click on the Browse… button.

The Windows Explorer will then appear.
 

Windows 2012 Server Core: About Windows Updates

Some Window 2012 Server Core servers have gone “live” in our production environment.  Hence, I am expected to know how to manage those servers.  In this post, it will be about Windows Updates for the Server Cores. 

In order to verify the current Windows Update setting, the below command need to be issued at the command prompt:

C:\windows\system32>cscript scregedit.wsf /au /v

Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.8

Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update AUOptions Value not set.

In order to start the Windows Update service, the below command need to be issued at the command prompt:

C:\windows\system32>net start wuauserv

The Windows Update service is starting.

The Windows Update service was started successfully.

In order to view updates installed on a specific date (i.e. 13 Sep 2013), the below command need to be issued at the command prompt:

C:\wmic qfe where (installedon like “9/13/2013”)

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=2853587 KANDTIDC Security Update

KB2853587 KANDTI\Admin 9/13/2013
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=2870699 KANDTIDC Security Update
KB2870699 KANDTI\Admin 9/13/2013
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=2871389 KANDTIDC Security Update
KB2871389 KANDTI\Admin 9/13/2013
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=2871777 KANDTIDC Security Update
KB2871777 KANDTI\Admin 9/13/2013

In order to view a specific update (i.e. KB285387), the below command need to be issued at the command prompt:

C:\wmic qfe where “HotfixID = ‘KB285387’”

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=2853587 KANDTIDC Security Update

KB2853587 KANDTI\Admin 9/13/2013