These are the top Microsoft Support solutions to the most common issues experienced using Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (updated quarterly).
1. Solutions related to Active Directory replication:
- Replication error 8453 Replication access was denied
- Replication error -2146893022 The target principal name is incorrect
- Replication error 1753 There are no more endpoints available from the endpoint mapper
- Replication error 1396 Logon Failure The target account name is incorrect
- Replication error 8614 The Active Directory cannot replicate with this server because the time since the last replication with this server has exceeded the tombstone lifetime
- Replication error 8524 The DSA operation is unable to proceed because of a DNS lookup failure
- Replication error 1256 The remote system is not available
- Replication error 8451 The replication operation encountered a database error
2. Solutions related to DNS:
- Don't be afraid of DNS Scavenging. Just be patient.
- Optimizing your network to keep your DNS squeaky clean
- The size of the Active Directory increases rapidly on a Windows Server 2003-based or Windows Server 2008 R2-based domain controller that hosts the DNS Server role
- Some DNS name queries are unsuccessful after you deploy a Windows-based DNS server
- No records in the secondary DNS zone and DNS error 6527
A DNS Update is recorded as failed: Event ID 5774, 1196, or 1578
3. Solutions related to bugchecks, stop errors, and unexpected restarts:
- Bug Check Code Reference
- How to generate a kernel or a complete memory dump file in Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2
- How to use the special pool feature to isolate pool damage
- How to determine the appropriate page file size for 64-bit versions of Windows
- Using Driver Verifier to identify issues with Windows drivers for advanced users
- How to diagnose Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 performance issues
- How to troubleshoot Directory Services PKI and ADCS issues for Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 using Fix it Center Pro
- Collect memory dump files in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2
4. Solutions related to Active Directory issues:
- Root Causes for Slow Boots and Logons (sbsl)
- How to remove data in Active Directory after an unsuccessful domain controller demotion
- "Directory Services cannot start" error message when you start your Windows-based or SBS-based domain controller
- How to restore deleted user accounts and their group memberships in Active Directory
- Running Adprep.exe
- Upgrade Domain Controllers to Windows Server 2012
- Upgrade Domain Controllers: Microsoft Support Quick Start for Adding Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers to Existing Domains
5. Solutions related to File Replication Technologies (FRS and DFSR):
- Where’s my file? Root cause analysis of FRS and DFSR data deletion
- Understanding DFSR debug logging (Part 14: A sharing violation due to a file locked upstream between two Windows Server 2008)
- Understanding DFSR debug logging (Part 17: Replication failing because of blocked RPC ports (uses debug severity 5))
- DFSR Event ID 2213 is logged on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012
- Common DFSR Configuration Mistakes and Oversights
- List of currently available hotfixes for Distributed File System (DFS) technologies in Windows Server 2008 and in Windows Server 2008 R2