reason for failed in-plce upgrade 2008 r2 to 2012 r2

Question

getting the error message
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard cannot be upgraded to Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard
when attempting an in-place upgrade with no reason given.

Answer 1

The simplest solution for a domain controller is stand up a temp one for the migration (even desktop hardware will do)

I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2012, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

Also at some point after I'd recommend migrating sysvol replication from older FRS technology to DFSR
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Streamlined-Migration-of-FRS-to-DFSR-SYSVOL/ba-p/425405

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Answer 2

Sounds good, you're welcome.

--please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--