Tip: Switch Windows Server from BIOS to UEFI Boot and Secure Boot

Today I had the requirement to convert a Windows server from Legacy BIOS to UEFI with Secure Boot. It was a virtual machine on an ESXi 8 server. However, the method described should also work with other hypervisors and also with physically installed Windows servers. If in the BIOS of the server or in the ... Read more

Windows updates from January 2022 cause problems

The Windows updates that Microsoft released on 11.01.2022 are causing some problems on Windows servers. In the meantime, there are increasing reports that domain controllers keep restarting after January CU has been installed. Some other problems seem to increasingly affect Windows Server 2012 R2. After installing the update, Hyper-V no longer starts and ReFS formatted ... Read more

Changing the IP address and host name of a domain controller

Sometimes it may be necessary to subsequently change the IP and host name of a domain controller, for example if a new domain controller replaces an old one and is to be accessible under the same IP and name. Changing the IP address of a domain controller is normally possible without any problems, changing the host name of a domain controller ... Read more

Quick tip: "Why did the computer shut down unexpectedly?" appears at every login

Windows servers may display the message "Why did the computer shut down unexpectedly" at every login if the server had previously crashed. Although the message can be confirmed for the current session, it reappears the next time the user logs on: This small problem occurs when a user who is not the "Administrator" logs on, ... Read more

Windows updates from February 2019 important for Exchange Server

The updates for Windows Server which were released on February 19, 2019 after the regular patchday are also important for Exchange Server running on Windows Server 2016. Specifically, it is about a problem that has existed since September 2018: KB4457127 causes problems on DCs in connection with Exchange KB4457127 causes problems after installation ... Read more

Migration Domain Controller to Server 2016

I have now received several emails regarding the migration of domain controllers that are still running an older operating system. Most of the emails are about retaining the IP address of the original domain controller. The environments described in the e-mails were all similar, only the operating system on which the original domain controller was running ... Read more

A first look at Project Honolulu

Microsoft has released a new Technical Preview of Project Honolulu (version 1711). Project Honolulu is a web console for the management of Windows servers. In other words, a kind of "Server Manager" in the browser. Although it is still a technical preview that is not yet ready for productive use, it is possible to use it ... Read more

iOS 11 problems with Exchange 2016 ActiveSync on Server 2016

Apparently there is a problem with the Golden Master (GM) of Apple's iOS 11 with the Apple Mail App and Exchange Server 2016 on Windows Server 2016. In this case it is not possible to reply to mails or forward the mails with the Mail App. iOS 11 is not yet publicly available, it should ... Read more

Server 2016: Feature updates similar to Windows 10

Feature updates for Windows Server 2016 will also be released twice a year in the near future. This means that the update behavior is similar to Windows 10. However, Windows Server 2016 will offer the option of selecting the "Long-term Servicing Channel", which means that new features will only be released every two to three years. ... Read more