how to install using dism Step 1 boot off the disk and select your language step 2 instead of selecting install windows select repair your computer step 3 goto command prompt step 4 go into disk part step 5 list disk step 6 select disk # for me disk 0 maybe different for others step 7 create partition primary size=350 step 8 create partition primary (here dont type a size unless u need to make another partition on the selected disk) step 8 list volume step 9 select the 350mb volume for me it was volume 1 so we type select volume 1 step 10 format fs=fat32 quick step 11 select the largest volume you created for me was volume 2 and repeat step 10 only changeing fs=fat32 to fs=ntfs step 12 select the 350mb volume you created again and type assign, then do the same for the volume u formatted to ntfs step 13 type list volume and note down the drive letter for your dvd rom, your 350mb volume and your windows partition you created, for me it was D,C and E in that order step 14 goto your install disk, cd D:\Sources step 15 type dism /apply-image /imagefile:install.wim /index:# /applydir:E:\(# is replaced by the sku u wish to install, 1 standerdcore 2 standerd 3 datacentercore and 4 datacenter) step 16 once complete type cd e:\windows\system32 (rembering E was my windows install drive so change to what u get) step 17 BCDBOOT E:\Windows /f all /s C: (rembering for me C: is my 350mb partition) ok now from here you can reboot your computer now i may have done something wrong here as it fails to boot into windows... to fix that u will have to boot to a windows 8 or 8.1 disk and run startup repair... from there on you can boot to your new install and go from there
i can also confirm that windows server 2012 keys dont seem to work on r2 like windows 8 keys work on 8.1
Has anyone seen the MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2012 R2 ESSENTIALS RTM X64 ENGLISH DVD-WZT in the wild yet has it been leaked like the standard version, cannot seem to find links yet, or am I right in saying that the ESSENTIALS options can be turned on in the standard version?
ei.cfg trick works fine (all version available!), however no way to activate yet Mods: please delete the post above, sorry
No but I can do the same as the previous version, buy a legit key when the supplier I use has them no problem activating then LOL, could you remind me how to use your trick and did not think the ESSENTIALS version was on same dvd did also read that you should be able to install the ESSENTIALS part in the standard version is that right?
From what I have found, upgrading information on 2012 r2 are confusing. It seems that this will not be a free update, like 8.1 to 8. But some other sources seem to say otherwise. Can somebody here make it clear?
Just create a file in your usb stick (or edit iso before burn) "\sources" folder named "ei.cfg". During 2nd stage of installation when it asks for serial just press SKIP button ei.cfg Code: [EditionID] [Channel] Retail [VL] 0
Works great ! The only part you missed, was setting partiton 1 (350MB) as "active". Once this is done the installation boots on it's own, no need for startup repair.
Those who have SLIC 2.2 can try out OEM:SLP activation. If you need OEM:SLP key, PM me. But I'm not sure SLIC 2.2 works with R2 or not.
Hi thanks for the above tip I got it to work, however I can now confirm that the essentials version is not on the standard dvd, it just has standard & datacentre.