Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Azra Lyndsey
Azra LyndseyFlag for United States of America

asked on

Server 2012 Essentials Set Up Windows Wizard Runs after log in

I have a virtual instance of Windows Server 2012 Essentials that, after logging in, starts the Set Up Wizard.  If I use task manager to force end the wizard, I'm taken to a the default dark blue screen background and I'm unable to do anything with the machine, no CLI, no GUI.  I see no icons or anything.

I'm using R-U-On.com to monitor the server's status, it see that the server is rebooting and that it's running - so I'm confident that most of the rest of the server is still there, but I can't figure out what is evoking the set up wizard to run as I'm taken straight into it.  

Going into Safe Mode I tried to look at the startup stuff, I see that "startup items are not enabled on this system" and in Task Manager, where you usually find startup stuff in Windows 8 - there's no such feater in TaskManager on Server 2012.

Any thoughts on what might be evoking this and how to stop it?
Avatar of Cliff Galiher
Cliff Galiher
Flag of United States of America image

Is there a reason you aren't completing the wizard? Essentials is a specialty product and has specific technical and licensing restrictions and requirements. The wizard makes the necessary configuration changes so the technical requirements are met. It should not be closed or skipped. If you don't want essentials configured, you should not install essentials, but should instead opt for standard or datacenter.
SOLUTION
Avatar of Azra Lyndsey
Azra Lyndsey
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
That is not a choice when an installed essentials OS boots, even if the wizard was never run. That *is* a choice in the initial installation wizard launched from media. Check to make sure a bootable USB, DVD, or (or virtual equivalent id this is a VM) isn't in the server that is superseding the hard drive in boot order.
Avatar of Azra Lyndsey

ASKER

Like I said, this comes up only after I've logged in to the computer.  It starts loading stuff, then this opens.  I can get into safemode, and I see all the stuff I've done on the box - and this doesn't load.

I did check to make sure that there are no ISO, DVD drives, or USB sticks connected to the VM.  It's naked.

Anything else you can think of?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Good info on what might be going on here, sadly, I didn't have a chance to work this all the way out before I had to move on.