dslabbekoorn

Got it all installed and working, DNS was nearly all set up as the clients still had the correct settings, just had to add comcast and google as forwarders on the server. Put PLEX on the server, set it up as a service and all my media is good to go and showing on all the Rokus. Was able to get rid of some old folders that were unused but locked when the new OS released them, neater. All clients reconnected and working. New SSD in as OS drive, much faster for everything. Have a new CPU coming (Quad core AMD Phenom II 965, and 4gb more memory to finish out the upgrade. Hardest part will be mounting the new CPU heatsink, 3.4ghz CPU puts out 125 watts of heat, Cooler master 212 evo needed to cool that bad boy. All done for about $110 US. I love ebay. This upgraed beast should be able to handle anything I can throw at it for the forseable future. Oh by the way, the old backups were "available" to restore from only. Still had to run a full backup on each client to get a usuable backup set started in the dashboard. Even the client backups seemed to go faster with the new setup. Server backup now knows the SSD and I think I'm ready to relax a little now. It's not a hobby it's an adventure! Haven't tried setting up DCHP on the server yet, still reading up on it, don't know if it's better than the router doing it or not. Never added a role to the server and started it up yet Thanks for all your help,

Thanks, that's a load off my mind. I'll keep you posted. I do have a backup drive for the server, but it was for a 200gb drive and my SSD was only 120gb. Only 70gb was actually used, but the restore wouldn't work as the program claimed the partition was too small for the backup to fit and the original drive died before I could trim it down. Clean install and rebuild is tedious but best in the long run.

My system drive was failing and I couldn't clone it for the life of me. Put in a new 120GB SSD and installed windows clean on it. Was unable to deactivate license before I re-installed WSE2012. How can I get the activation back? Also, can I somehow still use the existing client computer backups (on a separate drive not in the pool) with the new install or am I doomed to backup all the clients all over again? (Groan)

Windows Server 2012 Essentials running on a Seagate 200 GB PATA (yes parallel) all by itself. I have tried twice, once using Paragon's Migrate OS to SSD (own it) and once with FarStone DriveClone server edition (14 day full function trial). Paragon's attempt was point and shoot with few options and it failed to boot at all. FarStone's attempt (more thorough with more options) got further but crapped out right after the little circle thing quits and it moves to the next screen. I'm in an endless repair page boot loop. Ran bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot bootrec /rebuildbcd and finally bootspec in the recovery environment that windows through me into. All completed successfully but still can't boot past this spot. The original drive still works and boots fine, I've had it back in twice today. Trying to clone it again with DriveClone as it got the furthest and I'll check it tomorrow, bedtime. SSD checks out OK by windows I can write to it and read from it, full capacity. Original drive has nothing but the system on it and 71 GB are used out of 200 on the old PATA drive The new SSD has 111.5 free (technically a 120GB) Kingston. Neither program had any issue with using the SSD as the target as the actual used part of the old system drive was only 70GB the rest is free space. Don't know what is wrong here and any advice is appreciated. I can't keep using the old drive for much longer, it's slow (up to 10 min reboot times) and hot and loud. How do I clone my old Windows Server 2012 Essentials system drive to a smaller SSD and get it to boot? Lastly, should any of this moving around the system drive mess up DrivePool? Other than the drive letters changing when some usb cables got moved (drivepool found both drives and called them by their new names just fine) nothing should be changing for it.

Cripes I feel like a newbie, while removing and testing the "failed" drive to see if it could be the external housing that failed and not the drive, I swapped out the usb cable used to connect the drive. Plugged it into my main computer and bingo, there was the drive working fine, tried it on another machine with another cable and same thing, works fine. Used the old cable again, no drive seen, complete zero. Bad cable not bad drive. Put a new cable on the drive and plugged it back into the server. I had removed the drive from the pool earlier. Server saw it immediatly and after about an hour of "talking" to the drive it settled down and even gave it the same drive letter as before. Everything seems the same as before the cable failed. Still have a problem of copying to the pool, first transfer goes ok, but any after that fail with the access denied error. Restarting the server cures it, but is more than a little inconvenient. The "reset pool permissions" (WSS troubleshooter) tool seems to be what I liked to do now, but appears to not want to work with Windows Server 2012 essentials. Any ideas?

Will drivepool re-build the missing disk after I remove it and plug a new one in its place? Is the data on the disk safe, I had duplication of most files set to on?

I can see and read all the server folders but can not save to or download from them. Get the "Access Denied" error when I try. Deleting is gone too, cut and paste does not work. This just started recently. Tried the reset permissions tool, but it won't work with Windows Server 2012 Essentials. Sounds like what I need to do but how? Worked fine yesterday now this, no updates that I know of. Help please. Dave Edit: Seems I have a drive (drive J, 2 tb) that has gone missing and is refusing to come back, I guess I'm looking for the most painless way to swap out the bad one for a new one, never had to do this yet. I'd like the data on the missing drive to re-build on the new one when installed. Any help is appreciated.

Well, too many little weird things going on. Think the crash may have scrambled more than a couple files. Rather than hunt them down individually I'm going to try to restore a server backup from before it crashed. (Yes I do back it up regularly, I can learn from my mistakes ) Never did one one the server itself before, but the process seems straight forward enough. Hopefully this will squash all the bugs.

After trying your ideas and many others I was about to give up when I read this Google link: http://social.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/2dc66e9b-0fa0-4429-b2d0-322f60ab0511/windows-server-devices-provider-service-not-working?forum=whs2011 It solved the problem. Seems the xml file the server keeps the device list on (and maybe it's backup too) got corrupted when something caused the blue screen crash. Renaming the files forced the server to rebuild them and all is good now. My backups are still there on the server, hope I didn't lose them or I'll have to go through the long initial backup again. All my devices are back, Yea! I truly think it was Microsoft's updates that did it not DP. Just wish I'd seen the notification my computer was updating when I upgraded DP. Just too eager to get the new version. Too many changes for my poor server to handle at once I guess. Thanks for your help.

Okay, this may not be a DP issue, but I did update to the new version and grabbed the latest windows updates on the same day. Now my dashboard shows everything fine ecept there are no devices/computers on the devices page. Also the name of my server changed from Media Server to My business server. The server is in a domain called HOME.local and all the clients are in a workgroup called (what else) WORKGROUP. The clients were all originally joined to the server using the "skip domain join" registry hack from Microsoft. They have been working flawlessly since.I have un-installed/re-installed the connector on one computer, it claimed to be still connected to the server when I did it. No change, still not showing in devices page. Shutdown and re-started both client and server several times, no change.A second computer in my network is backing up as I type this but does not show up in devices. All other pool and server functions I've tried so far work except backup status as it thinks there are no devices so no backups. I was copying over a file last night and the server crashed to a blue screen (its so cute now) After a restart, things seemed okay until I checked the dashboard and found no computers instead of 4 like there are supposed to be. I got nothing here so any help/observations would be appreciated. Off to work thanks

I found my problem(s). During the upgrade from 7 to 8.1, all the static ip information was deleted, so the client didn't have the proper DNS server info nor was it always calling itself by the proper address. This happened on all 3 computers I upgraded. Also, the "skip domain join" regisrty fix disappeared from 2 of the 3 machines on reboot even after appying it again. Checked this 4 times, and it consistantly disappeared on the 2 computers after a reboot following the application of the fix. The 3rd machine held the fix fine, even after rebooting. Once I took all this into consideration, I was able to un-install and re-install the connector on all the machines. Normal operation resumed immediatly. The trick is to apply the fix just before running the connector software and don't reboot first. The DNS/static ip issue cleared up the "computer monitoring error" I was getting after the upgrade. Guess you can't count on Microsoft upgrading even it's own software properly. All good now.

I recently upgraded from windows 7 ultimate to windows 8 pro (fun was had by no-one) but on completion, the connector was throwing a "monitoring error" for the upgraded computer. Everything else worked fine (to my surprise). Before the upgrade, my computer was not joined to a domain using the "skip domain join" trick widly published. I don't think the hack stuck over the upgrade. I decided to uninstall and re-install the connector to attemp to fix the monitoring error issue. Server worked fine, all folders available, and good backups at this point. After the connector install, a major restart occured and I was forced to log into a domain. Firefox and other programs had lost all bookmarks and saved info. Connector did not seem to work right and Norton was dead. A lucky system restore later, I was back where I started. My question is how can I get rid of the monitoring error and keep function on my computer? I plan to uninstall the connector, re-install the "skip domain join" hack, create a system restore point, then re-install the connector. A reboot later I should be OK to go. Will this fix the monitoring error? Any flaws in my therory? Any better ideas to try? My computer seems to work fine now except the annoying monitoring error pop-up. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Dave

Yes it does Drasha. And it continues to back up the clients to the new location just fine, something didn't get updated when I changed the value in the registry regarding location of the pool. I can also view the folder properties which show as 0 bytes as it's not there. Would the "recreate the folder" option let me specify where the folder is, that would work fine if it does. I don't want to press that button until I'm sure in case there is no way to back out if somethings not right. Registry key changed: As for how the server knows where... Check out the registry. "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Server\Backup", and check the "DatabaseName" string. That's the value it uses to locate the database. IIRC.

I got a new 3TB drive to use as a backup drive that's standing alone outside the pool as my setup with WSE2012 won't work when the client backup folder is in the pool for some reason. My client backup folder was on a 2TB usb drive and worked there flawlessly until I ran out of space. I now have a new Seagate 3TB internal to take it's place. I copied over all of the data on the old 2TB drive to the new 3TB drive and changed the registry setting, as provided by Drasha from my earlier thread, to point the server at the new location. The clients are backing up nicely and have had no problems seeing and using the new drive. My problem is that the client computer backup folder shows as missing in the dashboard. I am unsure what to do here, and thought I'd stop and ask before doing anything stupid (first time for everything) How can I painlessly fix this? I had no problem like this when I copied all to a pool folder and made the registry change (and back again when it wouldn't work in the pool) don't know why it's showing as missing now. Backups seem to be working ok now, I just worry about having to restore with WSE2012 thinking there is a missing folder. By the way, each clients backup history pops right up fine, no problem there. New weird bug to track down for the new year. All help is greatly appreciated. Dave

My client backup folder resides on a 2TB usb drive as I can't get the folder to work (all backups fail in seconds, long story in another thread ) in the pool. My backup folder has ballooned to the whole drive (Only 10 mb free) and "cleanup" does not seem to be removing the old backups even though I told it to cut way back on the retention policy. So I need to blow away the old backup data and start fresh with a much more restrictive retention policy. My question is this, how do I do this properly so as not to bork the client backup setup which is working beautifully. Can I just delete the contents of the client backup folder and Windows Server 2012 will start over with new backups? Tedious if it works, but my options are few, a 3 TB drive is to much at present. Not directly a drivepool question I guess, but I trust the opinion of people on this forum as they have been a big help to me in the past with drivepool and other questions. Thanks in advance. Edit: I seem to have found my answer here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/delete-client-backup-database-2.aspx According to this, I can't get rid of "unwanted backups until I make some room on the drive and I can't make room on the drive until I get rid of some unwanted backups. Catch-22. OK then, goodbye backups and hello new more conservative retention policy (was using the built in one, kept way too many)

Been using Symantec Endpoint Protection on my WSE2012 box with a 12 TB pool, no problems in over 3 weeks. Media streaming works great and access to all drives and the pool is normal. I have turned off the Symantec firewall to prevent network problems as some members of the Symantec forums have suggested. Didn't have issues before, but didn't want to take any unessisary chances and I don't need another firewall behind my hardware one. Fully supports Windows Server 2012 and installs without problems, if a bit long install (took about 5 minutes). Updates and scans automatically, you can get it for server only or use it for all your clients as well (of course at additional cost) relativly reasonable pricing for one machine if you shop around. Info link: http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=HOWTO81091

My WSE 2012 set up works great, backing everyone of my 4 computers up each day and serving my media and software files across the network. The only thing (other than an inability to have the client backup folder in the pool (sigh)) that I haven't yet set up is the server backup itself. I would ideally like to set it up to backup to an offsite (cloud) file service. I have almost zero experience with cloud backups and could use any advice you may have. Can WSE 2012 be set up to back the server up to the cloud/ Which services are best/cheapest? Any problems with using one? I realize not having the server backed up is a big security risk and that reminds me, what about data security for the stuff sent out to the "cloud"? I'd like to keep my data private as possible. I would be backing up only the server installation/drive itself and not all my terabytes of data. Any advice is apprecieated, Thanks. Dave

Drasha, So you're saying stop the service, move (cut) the contents of the client backup folder to a temporary folder in the hidden "PoolPart.xxxx" folder, then move the folder itself via the dashboard and put the contents back in it. The main idea is the empty folder will move much faster. I use TeraCopy and can move the bulk of the folder contents much faster than Drivepool can. Am I getting this right? The current drive it's on is a 2tb usb 3.0 drive not in the pool, the other 8.5tb are the pool itself.

So had I in WHS2011, only have had problems since moving to WSE 2012. Not sure what you mean about "restart the database (move the location, but not the files)" How would that work? I have tried resetting permissions on the pool once before while troubleshooting this to no effect. Should I try just copying the files over to the pool and then move the "empty" client backup folder over to the pool then put the file back in it? The move folder option in drivepool is painfully slow for me, taking 36 - 48 hours to move the folder over to the pool or back. I know something in drivepool's move function points the server at the folders new location, but is there a shortcut way to move it back and forth to make trying things out easier? How does the server know where the folder is anyway, I have never set a setting to tell it? Maybe cut and paste with "telling" the server where the folder is now, will work better than the more orthodox "move folder" function. I can copy to and from locations on the server at up to 80mb/sec. Might be worth a try, had weirder things work on computers before.

Arrgh! 2 good backups of all 3 computers and then then dreaded failure after 15 seconds and nothing but since then. Going to put the folder back on it's own drive again to get it working. Thought it was licked after the 2nd backup worked, started to get error or blank pages about the backup info then the backups failed. Checked the logs and it's the same errors and failures as before. Sent in logs and the error collection as mentioned above before, can again if you think they'll help. So close but no cigar.

Yea! Took nearly 36 hours to copy the folder over to the pool, but it works!!! True the folder was 1.5TB, but shouldn't it have gone a little faster? Completed the 1st backup today, my wife's desktop over WiFi, without a hitch. Going to let the rest go overnight by themselves. Don't know what you guys tweaked or fixed, but it works in the pool now. Now I can stop worrying about the folder size. Thanks again for all your hard work on this and everything that's gone into ver. 2.

It's been a month, so I thought I'd check in to see if anyone was having any luck with the client backup folder in the pool. As mine is about 1.5 TB, it takes overnight just to move it back in the pool, 30 seconds to fail the backup, and then overnight again to move it back to it's own drive. Like to avoid all that if it's still being problematic. I'm on the newest version but haven't tried it lately. Any word on success out there?

Anything new on this topic? Last I heard Microsoft knew of the problem and was investigating whether or not they wanted to try and fix it, I don't think it is something Alex can fix completly on his own as it seem to effect all databases that are attemped to be used/stored on the pool. In other words it's a Windows issue, not working as advertised, imagine that. I love WSE 2012 as it is the most stable and best working "home" server to date. Now if they could fix the client back-up folder in the pool issue, it would be great. My separate back-up drive is still ok but I don't like getting close to capacity on any drive, I have tons of room in the pool that won't work and "only" 500 gb left on the backup drive. Dave

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Very nice.

A bit off the usual topic but I wanted to share this with the community as I've had such good luck with it. It is MoCA, it stands for multimedia over coax alliance. Practically, this is an adapter that connects to your router and bridges Ethernet to coax, a second adapter, wherever you need a fast and stable network signal converts it back to Ethernet. This will work with any coax network, so if your house is wired for cable, it's now wired for 100mbs Ethernet. The signal is solid, strong and fast. I stream 1080p from my server in my office upstairs to the xbmc in my living room through several splitters. Could not get it to work consistently with wireless and now it's as smooth as butter, no buffering, no stutter. The only thing that seems to be a problem is a cable/coax amplifier between the sending and receiving units. A little re-wiring for me and it worked fine. Install is plug and play. Coax is pass thru the adapter and it has an Ethernet jack out to your device or switch if you have more than on at the location. Hooked it up and the network picked it up in seconds and I was good to go. They cost about $45 each, you usually need 2, some devices for example the newer TiVo's and some TV's and Blu Ray players are set up for it already with an internal adapter. None of my stuff was. The MoCA trade group is sponsored by some big names in computers, networking and cable so this is no fly by night start up. Adapters are just coming on line but are available through most major retailers though you have to look for them as they are so new. Best one seems to be from ActionTec (new version out this year), followed by Netgear and D-link. Got mine from Best Buy through a marketplace partner for $109 for the pair. Current network speed being reported is 80 mbs on average, more than enough for high def streaming. The big plus is the stability of the signal, no blips or anything has been seen so far through online gaming and streaming high def movies over the network. I am giving the links I used to check this out and order below, this is worth checking out if you are wired for cable, always wanted to have hard wired Ethernet but didn't want to tear up the house, and find wireless a bit lacking. I use 2 ghz splitters in my cable wiring and the run to my cable modem is kept separate to avoid any interference. Sorry if this has run a little long and sounds like a sales pitch, but I am really liking these things, they just work and work well. Plus they saved me from hard wiring my house or having to put up with my wife's rolled eyes every time a streamed movie stops and goes "Buffering". Check out the links below and see if maybe this will work for you. Thanks for all the drivepool help I have received here, hopefully this can be a bit of pay back. Dave Links: http://www.mocalliance.org/ http://www.mocaisinyourhouse.com/