Subject: Windows Server 2016 Essentials - Incomplete ClientDeploy Payload

Question

Background - installed windows server 2012 Essentials to replace my windows server 2012 R2 Essentials. Install went fine, but when trying to download the connector, it became obvious the installation is missing files. I use the skipdomain function to bypass joining the domain same as I've always done in 2012 R2 ESS.

Problem: > Windows 11 clients Complete the Download of the connector software due to missing files on the server. (note. ISO was download from Microsoft site).

Evidence of Missing Files: While the folder C:\Windows\System32\Essentials\ClientDeploy exists and contains the 249KB ComputerConnector.exe, it is missing the rest of the required payload, specifically the MSI installers (e.g., WssConn.msi).

Troubleshooting Done:

Confirmed the files are also missing from C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Server\Bin\WebApps\Client\Package\en-US.

Attempted to run the 249KB launcher, which fails because it cannot find the .msi package on the server to complete the installation.

Request: Please provide a method to restore the full ClientDeploy package files for Windows Server 2016 Essentials so that Client Connector and Bare Metal Backups can be initialized on Windows 11 clients.

Answer 1

To restore the full ClientDeploy package files for Windows Server 2016 Essentials, you may need to ensure that the installation media is complete and not corrupted. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Re-download the ISO: Since you mentioned that the ISO was downloaded from the Microsoft site, it's possible that the download was incomplete or corrupted. Try downloading the ISO again from the official Microsoft website to ensure you have a complete set of files.
2. Check Installation Logs: Review the installation logs for any errors during the installation process that might indicate why the files are missing. Logs can often provide insights into what went wrong.
3. Manual Extraction: If you have access to another installation of Windows Server 2016 Essentials, you can manually copy the missing files from that installation to your current server. Look for the MSI files in the appropriate directories as you noted (e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Server\Bin\WebApps\Client\Package\en-US).
4. Use DISM Tool: If the installation media is still not working, you can use the Deployment Imaging Service and Management Tool (DISM) to repair the Windows image. Run the following command in an elevated command prompt:

      DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   

   This may help fix any issues with the installation files.
5. Contact Microsoft Support: If the above steps do not resolve the issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for assistance. They may have additional tools or methods to help restore the ClientDeploy package files.

By following these steps, you should be able to restore the necessary files to complete the installation of the Client Connector and enable Bare Metal Backups on your Windows 11 clients.