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Server 2012 R2 upgrade fails on Dell server

Hi

Am trying to upgrade a Dell R310 server from 2008 R2 to 2012 R2 ( both Standard editions) but the upgrade fails towards the end of the process. It does the usual prep work, copies files etc. successfully. It then boots into 2012 and you get the "Getting ready" and device enumeration % messages. Finally, it tries to boot again into 2012 but crashes shortly after the Windows logo and rotating dots appear.

I assumed it was a BIOS or firmware problem, even although the server met Dell's minimum criteria for 2012. Anyways, I updated the system BIOS, PERC H700 firmware and iDRAC as follows:

Bios: 1.12.0
H700 package: 12.10.6-000
H700 firmware: 2.100.03-2514
H700 BIOS: 3.18.0
iDRAC: 1.96.01

Despite the BIOS upgrades the system still fails. You can't boot into safe mode and there are no error messages. Have tried booting without driver signature checking and any other options I could find but with no luck.

Have reverted back to Server 2008 R2 for now, but we really need to upgrade this machine.

Any ideas on what I could try next?

Thanks

Mark.

Justin Yeung

what features and services have been installed on the server?

MarkoIreland

ASKER

It's a DC ( the only DC), DNS server, DHCP server, WSUS, WDS and Hyper-V.

I ran ADPREP before the upgrade.

Thanks

Justin Yeung

sounds like a small environment with no other hardware available?

isn't it? if you do, I will highly recommend to build a new dc and migrate the role over then follow a decommission and rebuild.

1. WSUS will not be upgraded.
2. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh994618
The Known issue.

MarkoIreland

ASKER

Yes, it's a secondary school server with no other hardware available. That's the reason for the in-place upgrade. Trying to avoid doing a new install since it will mean a lot more work with limited resources.

Is there any way to determine what is actually failing? I can enable logging from the advanced boot menu, but it's not much use if you can't boot into anything to read the log.

Safe mode doesn't work - presumably because 2012 isn't fully installed at this stage.

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Justin Yeung

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MarkoIreland

ASKER

Yes, did both runs of ADPREP.

Symantec is installed, which I didn't think of removing. Will also try and remove WSUS and see if it completes.

Thanks

MarkoIreland

ASKER

Removed Symantec and upgrade sailed through. Should have caught that myself but been a while since I did an in-place upgrade and must be rusty.

Thanks for pointer.

Justin Yeung

good that you resolved it.