So I have a client that has an old Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard server running as a domain controller. I recently brought in a new VMWare server with a Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials VM. After some domain and forest functional level raising (it was at 2000 mixed) I was finally able to promote the new server as a domain controller. I then ran into some issues with the wizard.
At first, it didn't go very far, and would give me "An error occurred while configuring Windows Server Essentials. Please Try Again." Well, first things - WHAT A GREAT AND SUPER IMFORMATIVE ERROR MESSAGE MICROSOFT! Holy cow, way to put the effort in guys.
After looking through event viewer I found an issuer with ServerAdmin$ not having Log on as a Service rights. Well, I go to the old DC and add that in and do a GPUpdate.
Try again and I now get 87% and I get the same "An error occurred while configuring Windows Server Essentials. Please Try Again." So with Microsoft being lazy, I go back to event viewer and all I get now is: "The Windows Server Essentials Management Service service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 6 time(s)." which is event ID 7034.
Where as the previous error actually had a fix right in the event log. This does not, and Google, Bing and DuckDuckGo all fail to provide some insight.
Also, it says that the troubleshooting is not available for Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials to go on the TechNet forums.
I did NOT transfer the FSMO rules yet.... I also haven't moved DHCP yet...
The Windows Server Essentials Management Service service terminated unexpectedly. It has done this 6 time(s).