Exchange 2016 cu15 to 19 upgrade issue

Question

Attempting to upgrade exchange 2016 cu15 to cu19 and I am getting an error that I can't find an answer to.

[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0545] [1] Processing component 'Admin Tools Configuration' (Configuring the server.).
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0546] [1] Executing:
if (Test-Path ($Env:SystemRoot + "\system32\mmc.exe")) {Copy-Item -Path ($RoleInstallPath+"Bin\mmc.exe.config") -Destination (Split-Path (where.exe mmc)) -Force}

[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0681] [1] The following 1 error(s) occurred during task execution:
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0681] [1] 0. ErrorRecord: The term 'where.exe' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0682] [1] 0. ErrorRecord: System.Management.Automation.CommandNotFoundException: The term 'where.exe' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
at System.Management.Automation.CommandDiscovery.LookupCommandInfo(String commandName, CommandTypes commandTypes, SearchResolutionOptions searchResolutionOptions, CommandOrigin commandOrigin, ExecutionContext context)
at System.Management.Automation.CommandDiscovery.LookupCommandProcessor(String commandName, CommandOrigin commandOrigin, Nullable1 useLocalScope) at System.Management.Automation.ExecutionContext.CreateCommand(String command, Boolean dotSource) at System.Management.Automation.PipelineOps.AddCommand(PipelineProcessor pipe, CommandParameterInternal[] commandElements, CommandBaseAst commandBaseAst, CommandRedirection[] redirections, ExecutionContext context) at System.Management.Automation.PipelineOps.InvokePipeline(Object input, Boolean ignoreInput, CommandParameterInternal[][] pipeElements, CommandBaseAst[] pipeElementAsts, CommandRedirection[][] commandRedirections, FunctionContext funcContext) at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.ActionCallInstruction6.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0687] [1] [ERROR] The following error was generated when "$error.Clear();
if (Test-Path ($Env:SystemRoot + "\system32\mmc.exe")) {Copy-Item -Path ($RoleInstallPath+"Bin\mmc.exe.config") -Destination (Split-Path (where.exe mmc)) -Force}
" was run: "System.Management.Automation.CommandNotFoundException: The term 'where.exe' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
at System.Management.Automation.CommandDiscovery.LookupCommandInfo(String commandName, CommandTypes commandTypes, SearchResolutionOptions searchResolutionOptions, CommandOrigin commandOrigin, ExecutionContext context)
at System.Management.Automation.CommandDiscovery.LookupCommandProcessor(String commandName, CommandOrigin commandOrigin, Nullable1 useLocalScope) at System.Management.Automation.ExecutionContext.CreateCommand(String command, Boolean dotSource) at System.Management.Automation.PipelineOps.AddCommand(PipelineProcessor pipe, CommandParameterInternal[] commandElements, CommandBaseAst commandBaseAst, CommandRedirection[] redirections, ExecutionContext context) at System.Management.Automation.PipelineOps.InvokePipeline(Object input, Boolean ignoreInput, CommandParameterInternal[][] pipeElements, CommandBaseAst[] pipeElementAsts, CommandRedirection[][] commandRedirections, FunctionContext funcContext) at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.ActionCallInstruction6.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)".
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0687] [1] [ERROR] The term 'where.exe' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0692] [1] [ERROR-REFERENCE] Id=AdminToolsComponent___99aa0a89-1e09-4dd5-8f17-998a1cbe2154 Component=EXCHANGE14:\Current\Release\Shared\Datacenter\Setup
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0692] [1] Setup is stopping now because of one or more critical errors.
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0692] [1] Finished executing component tasks.
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0712] [1] Ending processing Install-AdminToolsRole
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0715] [0] CurrentResult console.ProcessRunInternal:198: 1
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0720] [0] CurrentResult launcherbase.maincore:90: 1
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0720] [0] CurrentResult console.startmain:52: 1
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0720] [0] CurrentResult SetupLauncherHelper.loadassembly:452: 1
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0720] [0] The Exchange Server setup operation didn't complete. More details can be found in ExchangeSetup.log located in the <SystemDrive>:\ExchangeSetupLogs folder.
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0721] [0] CurrentResult main.run:235: 1
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0722] [0] CurrentResult setupbase.maincore:396: 1
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0722] [0] End of Setup
[03/09/2021 16:50:30.0722] [0] **********************************************

Answer 1

The where.exe and mmc.exe were in their correct locations. I did find that for some reason the path for system32 was not in the env variables and after adding that the installation went through without issue.
Thanks for everyones help!

Answer 2

Hi @Paul Copsey ,
How did you upgrade the Exchange server? Use the unattended mode or the Exchange setup wizard?

ErrorRecord: The term 'where.exe' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

Accoridng to the error information, the term “where.exe” is not recognized. Please make sure that you run the correct command to upgrade the Exchange server.

<Virtual DVD drive letter>:\Setup.exe /IAcceptExchangeServerLicenseTerms /Mode:Upgrade [/DomainController:<ServerFQDN>] [/EnableErrorReporting]  

For more information you could refer to: Install an Exchange CU using unattended Setup from the command line

In addition, please note the following points:

1. The account is a required member of the Exchange Organization Management role group.
2. Before upgrading the Exchange server, please prepare AD and domian.
   For more information: Prepare Active Directory and domains for Exchange Server

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Answer 3

Hi @Paul Copsey ,

1. Please check whether the "where.exe" and “mmc.exe” file exists in the following path:
   c：\ windows \ system32
   c：\ windows \ syswow64
2. I noticed an error occurred in the installer at the specific "Exchange Management Tools". According to my research, I found a similar case. An error also occurred in where.exe. Another user using poweruser tool to run cmd as TrustedInstaller, temporarily renamed c:\windows\syswow64\mmc.exe to mmc.unused. Then try to upgrade again.
   The similar case: Exchange 2016 cu11 to cu19 update fails

----------

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Answer 4

I have attempted to run this using local admin and domain admin.
Ran this on powershell and through gui

I attempted the above command for the installation and go the same error

It always fails at same place:

Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Cumulative Update 19 Unattended Setup

Languages
Management tools
Mailbox role: Transport service
Mailbox role: Client Access service
Mailbox role: Unified Messaging service
Mailbox role: Mailbox service
Mailbox role: Front End Transport service
Mailbox role: Client Access Front End service

Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check

Configuring Prerequisites                                                                        COMPLETED
Prerequisite Analysis                                                                            COMPLETED

Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server

Language Files                                                                                   COMPLETED
Restoring Services                                                                               COMPLETED
Language Configuration                                                                           COMPLETED
Exchange Management Tools                                                                        FAILED

The following error was generated when "$error.Clear();
if (Test-Path ($Env:SystemRoot + "\system32\mmc.exe"))
{Copy-Item -Path ($RoleInstallPath+"Bin\mmc.exe.config") -Destination (Split-Path (where.exe mmc)) -Force}
" was run:
"System.Management.Automation.CommandNotFoundException: The term 'where.exe' is not recognized as the name of a
cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify
that the path is correct and try again.
at System.Management.Automation.CommandDiscovery.LookupCommandInfo(String
commandName, CommandTypes commandTypes, SearchResolutionOptions searchResolutionOptions, CommandOrigin commandOrigin,
ExecutionContext context)
at System.Management.Automation.CommandDiscovery.LookupCommandProcessor(String
commandName, CommandOrigin commandOrigin, Nullable1 useLocalScope) at System.Management.Automation.ExecutionContext.CreateCommand(String command, Boolean dotSource) at System.Management.Automation.PipelineOps.AddCommand(PipelineProcessor pipe, CommandParameterInternal[] commandElements, CommandBaseAst commandBaseAst, CommandRedirection[] redirections, ExecutionContext context) at System.Management.Automation.PipelineOps.InvokePipeline(Object input, Boolean ignoreInput, CommandParameterInternal[][] pipeElements, CommandBaseAst[] pipeElementAsts, CommandRedirection[][] commandRedirections, FunctionContext funcContext) at System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.ActionCallInstruction6.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at
System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at
System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)
at
System.Management.Automation.Interpreter.EnterTryCatchFinallyInstruction.Run(InterpretedFrame frame)".

The Exchange Server setup operation didn't complete. More details can be found in ExchangeSetup.log located in the
<SystemDrive>:\ExchangeSetupLogs folder.