Server 2012 R2 Update & Windows 8.1 Update is a cumulative set of security updates, critical updates and updates.
Windows 8.1 Update for x86 (KB2919355)
Server 2012 R2 Update & Windows 8.1 Update is a cumulative set of security updates, critical updates and updates.
Windows 8.1 Update for x86 (KB2919355)
The Windows ADK 8.1 update (for Windows 8.1 Update) is available for download:
Windows ADK 8.1 update (direct download only: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=39982
You still run adksetup.exe to install or download the updated ADK, but you do see that the new ADK is slightly bigger than the previous kit. The Patches folder content also have a higher version number. The October 18, 2013 release of Windows 8.1 ADK had a folder named 8.100.26020, but the April 2, 2014 release of Windows 8.1 ADK have 8.100.26629.
New features in ADK 8.1 are the WIMBoot option, updates to dism, updates to WinRE and a new WinPE version (5.1). There are also fixes for USMT.
Important Change:
DISM: Does not support Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 images.
More info about the changes here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/dn247001.aspx
Info on updating WinPE 5.0 to WinPE 5.1: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn613859.aspx
Windows Server 2012’s System Preparation Tool (sysprep.exe) contains a new switch that allows system administrators to generalize the OS (remove any installation specific configuration) faster than previous versions of the tool that were designed for use on physical hardware.
The new VM-mode method for generalizing a Windows 8 or Server 2012 installation only works from inside a virtual machine. Once sysprep has completed the generalization and shutdown the VM, you can copy the VM’s .vhd file and attach it to a new VM in any system that uses the same hypervisor technology.
You will need to use sysprep from the command line, as there is no option to enable VM mode in the GUI.
Roaming user profiles on Windows 8-based or Windows Server 2012-based computers are incompatible with roaming user profiles in other versions of Windows.
Profiles are compatible only between the following client and server operating system pairs:
Note In this article, when the client operating system is referenced, the same issue applies to its corollary server operating system.
For example, if you try to deploy Windows 8 in an environment that uses roaming, mandatory, super-mandatory, or domain default profiles in Windows 7, you experience the following:
The issues occur because the profile will contain values that are used differently between the versions of Windows. The user profile will be missing default profile configuration information that is expected by the operating system, and could contain unexpected values that are set by a different operating system version. Therefore, the operating system will not behave as expected. Additionally, profile corruption may occur.
Hotfix: Download
To change the network type please do the following:
Hit Winkey + R to open Run prompt and type gpedit.msc
Navigate to: Computer Configuration | Windows Settings | Security Setting | Network List Manager Policies
Choose your Network name from the right pane. In my case network name was wardvissers.local
So the policy look likes
Now we have a Smiley for my wardvissers.local domain Cool!!
Provides a visual reference for understanding key Hyper-V technologies in Windows Server 2012 R2 and focuses on Generation 2 virtual machines, Hyper-V with virtual hard disk sharing, online virtual hard disk resizing, storage quality-of-service, enhanced session mode, live migration, Hyper-V failover clustering, and upgrading your private cloud
This update extends the Key Management Service (KMS) for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012 to enable the enterprise licensing of Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
KMS provides support for the following KMS client activations:
KMS uses a KMS host key to activate itself on a KMS host and to establish a local activation service in your environment. This update extends support for KMS to provide activation for Windows 8.1 and for Windows Server 2012 R2.
Click here for the downloads
We’re very excited to announce another free ebook offering from Microsoft Press. Introducing Windows Server 2012 R2 Preview Release (ISBN 9780735682931), by Mitch Tulloch with the Windows Server Team, introduces new features and capabilities, with scenario-based advice on how the platform can meet the needs of your business. Get the high-level overview you need to begin preparing your deployment now. This book is based on the Preview release and will be updated to cover Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM.
Download the PDF version of this title here (108 pages, 5 MB). UPDATE: The EPUB format is here and the MOBI format is here.
Watch for the lengthier RTM edition of this ebook later this year!
If you prefer a hard copy of the book, you can order it here.