One really cool benefit of being a MCT is that we get a subscription to TechNet Direct! This means I was able to get my RTM copy of Windows Server 2008 R2 earlier this afternoon!!

You can get a copy of the RTM bits yourself as a 180 trial, here.

I have a few machines that I run in my lab environment, and I figured I’d upgrade them to the latest OS so that I would have a head start for when my clients want to start installing it later this year. Many of you know the basics of installing an operating system, and I’m not going to lie – this isn’t much different than installing Server 2008, but I figured I’d document my progress and post it here for those who might benefit.

Because my lab already exists on Server 2008 SP2 Enterprise Edition x64 (you cannot upgrade from x86), I wanted to do an in-place upgrade, rather than a clean install. After doing the first machine, and gaining confidence, I moved on to the 2^nd; which was my domain controller. Because I’m a little insane (& lazy), I wanted to try the upgrade via remote desktop. By golly it worked! I wouldn’t recommend this for, um, lots of reasons – but I can say it DOES work!

Before upgrading the Active Directory domain controller, I first browsed to the .\support\adprep folder and ran the following two commands:

adprep /forestprep

adprep /domainprep

These commands allow for the installation of the first 2008 R2 domain controller. Be sure to do this before you begin the upgrade routine. Active Directory is beyond the scope of what I want to cover today, but if you’re curious about adprep; more info here.

For this article, the images used are from Hyper-V (you’ll notice the window frame). This is not the computer I did remotely, but the process didn’t change.

So without further delay, here are the screenshots:

1)Run setup.exe
2)Click Install now
3)The 2008 R2 media is hot off the presses, so there is not yet any updates, but as a best practice, click “Go online to get the latest updates for installation”
4)Select the version of Windows Server 2008 R2 you wish to upgrade to. Note: Windows 2008 R2 is x64 only. If you currently run an x86 version of Windows you will not be able upgrade.
5)Read and accept the license.
6)As I mentioned previously, I am upgrading.
7)This process ensures compatibility. More on this process here.
8)You will get a screen at the end of the previous step indicating weather or not you pass the list of known compatibility issues. This particular image (off screen) indicates I have other user accounts logged in, and they must first log out. (I had a separate RemoteApp session open). This tool places a log file on your desktop, regardless of pass or fail so that you can review it later. Once I closed the other sessions, I re-ran setup and was greeted with a “Next” button instead of “Close”.
9)The install begins!
10)After a while it automatically reboots the machine. From now until the end of the install it is “off” the network.
11)Setup restarts automatically
12)The installer picks up where we left off. This is the 2nd stage of the upgrade.
13)Go find something else to do for 20 minutes. It will be fine…
14)Getting close!
15)Almost there!
16)Start, Run, Winver –> (Note: Build 7600)

Once you check everything out for yourself, don’t forget to activate!  You’ve got 10 days before it starts to remind you.

And there ya have it! Happy Upgrading!