In part 1, I talked about how to remove a Role/Feature using Features on Demand. In this blog, I will be talking about how to add a feature back after it has been removed. Adding previously removed Features back to a computer using Features on Demand...

I’ve seen a couple of issues now where customers are having issues installing roles and features, particularly the .Net Framework 3.5, in Windows 8 and Server 2012.  The general process is that you’ll have an application that needs the older .Net...

This was written by a co-worker of mine, Jim Collins. Features on Demand is a new feature in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 that will allow you to remove files associated with specific roles and features, typically referred to as payload files. The...

I’ve talked in the past about the new Features on Demand option in Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. However, let’s say you build out an image, remove some roles and features and then patch the overall install. If you attempt to add back...

Quick post today following up on my prior post about Features on Demand and role persistence: http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2012/08/20/understanding-features-on-demand-and-role-persistence-in-windows-server-2012.aspx I've noticed people...

One of the most used tools when fixing corruption for Windows Vista, 7, 2008 and 2008 R2 was the System Update and Readiness Tool (KB947821), commonly called CheckSUR. The CheckSUR tool was an excellent way for most people to see what corruption had happened...

The RTM version of the Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 8 is now available here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=28972 Please take a moment to download them and update any prior RC versions that you might have...

A new option in Windows Server 2012, Features on Demand, allows for the removal of unwanted feature payloads from a Windows Server 2012 image before or after deployment. The way Features on Demand works is that it takes the payload (binaries for all components...

As many of you probably heard, we RTM'd Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 and Windows RT yesterday. In the event that you've been under a rock, you can read the release about RTM here: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2012/08...

Recently, I interviewed for a new role within Microsoft. As is the norm here, the last 15 minutes of the interview allows the interviewee to ask questions of the interviewer. I usually ask the same two questions of each interviewer: 1. What do you...

Then check out the Understand and Troubleshoot Guides we just released. These were written by myself and some others on the team working on Windows 8 about all sorts of cool things you can do. They're available here: http://social.technet.microsoft.com...

Along the same lines as removing items from the Windows component store to save space, we have recently seen a couple of questions come in about the Windows\Installer directory. This is a hidden system directory; it is used by the Windows Installer service...

I wanted to bring everyone's attention to a recent blog I worked with on a co-worker of mine regarding issues we've seen with locking down permissions on componentized directories. It's a good read and an easy plug for my team site. Enjoy. http://blogs...

An engineer on my team, Jim Collins, worked on this blog entry and I know its something that we see a lot of questions on here internally.  Enjoy, and thanks Jim! I'd like to talk about Multi branching support for Windows component based servicing...

I've gotten quite a few emails to me via the blog now that the developer preview for Windows 8 has hit regarding the changes to servicing in Windows 8. As some of you already know, I am working on the beta for Windows 8 from a support perspective. However...

After posting my original entry on how hard links work, a number of comments were made requesting clarification.  The original blog posting is below: http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2011/01/06/how-hard-links-work.aspx To his credit Joseph...

Customers ask from time to time how they can pull down driver files that they see on the Windows Update site individually without the need to use the Windows Update Agent internally within Windows.  This can be done using the Windows Update Catalog...

I just wanted to make you all aware of a new KB article myself and a couple of teammates put together around component store growth and remediation. I wanted to have something short and to the point and I think a lot of you might find this more useful...

I was asked this question the other day and I thought it would make a good quick entry in the blog. A customer was having difficulty installing a particular update but they werent getting any kind of error message when they attempted the install. The...

In case you missed it, support for Vista SP1 officially ends on 7/12. More information on this can be found in the link below: https://partner.microsoft.com/us/productssolutions/40131469 Here are the dates for the Server 2008 editions: http:...

I have an update for those of you with systems in a torn state. To clarify, torn state systems are those on which the unsupported workaround of deleting the checkpoint from the pending.xml file was used after getting the 0xC0000034 error during SP1 installations...

Quick update today for one of the issues seen during SP1 installation on Windows 7 and 2008 R2 installs. The update will be available on Tuesday. Released today: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2533552/en-us?sd=rss&spid=14498 This update does...

Some of you hit the 0xC000009A exit code when installing Service Pack 1 for Windows 7/2008 R2 on systems where multiple language packs have been installed. This issue has now been resolved and is published here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2534366...

Rarely do I completely delete a posting but I am going to in this case. If you have a torn state C34 install, we have a supported workaround. Please use the new information for this located here: http://blogs.technet.com/b/joscon/archive/2011/05/10...

Many of you have asked about when the RSAT tools for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 would be available for download. As of this morning, the target download date that I was given is today. UPDATE: Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows® 7...