Windows Server 2016 - Sluggish and updates failing

Question

Our server is running Windows Server 2016 (Essentials) which has a few problems.

For as long as I remember it's been extremely sluggish to use, but more recently updates are failing.

Every night it tries and fails to install the latest update.

Is there anything that can be done to get it healthy again?

One thought was to do an in-place upgrade to try to solve it.

Would an upgrade from 2016 to 2022 Essentials be free?

Answer 1

Hello,

Please firstly run below command to scan some system files and check result:

sfc /scannow

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /restoreHealth

Create folder C:\temp\cab 

Download the update from Microsoft Update Catalog to C:\temp 

Expand the .msu file to extract the .cab file by running below command in CMD: 

expand -F:* C:\temp{.msu file name with extension} C:\temp\cab

You will get a .cab file from last step, use the following DISM command to add package: 

Dism /online /add-package /packagepath:c:\temp\cab{.cab file with extension}

If there is no error, reboot the machine

If there is error, please show us screenshots of running all above commands.

Best Regards,

Molly

Answer 2

Hello,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community forum.

Based on the description, I understand your question is related to update.

You can try run the windows update trouble-shooter to check the update issue:

Select Start > Settings > Update & Security  > Troubleshoot> Additional troubleshooters. Next, under Get up and running, select Windows Update > Run the troubleshooter.

Yes, in place upgrade is also an option, you can refer to this link about doing in place upgrade on Server 2016 to Server 2022:

Perform a Feature Update of Windows Server | Microsoft Learn

Have a nice day. 

Best Regards,

Molly

Answer 3

I don't see Troubleshoot as an option under Update & Security.

On the left side I have Windows Update, Windows Defender, Recovery, Activation & For Developers

For some reason the recovery page is blank, and I can't see Troubleshooter as an option in the other tabs.

Answer 4

Solved. Thank you.

Working perfectly now.

There were corrupted files that Dism /online /add-package /packagepath:c:\temp\cab{.cab file with extension} fixed

Answer 5

Hello,

You're welcome, glad to know the issue was resolved!

Best regards,

Molly