These are the top Microsoft Support solutions for the most common issues experienced when using Windows Server 2008 (updated quarterly).
1. Solutions related to Bugchecks, Stop errors, and unexpected restarts:
- Windows Memory Dump Collector
- Bug Check Code Reference (Windows Debuggers)
- 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 Server 2008 and or Windows 2008 R2
- 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
- USB devices stop working in Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012
2. Solutions related to Active Directory replication:
- Download Active Directory Replication Status Tool from Official Microsoft Download Center
- Troubleshooting Active Directory Replication Problems: Active Directory
- Replication error 1722 The RPC server is unavailable
- 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
- Troubleshoot Directory Services issues in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2
3. 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 to Windows Server 2008 R2
4. 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
- DNS server stops responding to DNS queries from client computers in in Windows Server 2003, in Windows Server 2008 or in Windows Server 2008 R2
- Some DNS name queries are unsuccessful after you deploy a Windows-based DNS server
- A primary DNS zone file may not transfer to the secondary DNS servers in Windows Server 2008
- A DNS Update is recorded as failed: Event ID 5774, 1196, or 1578
5. Solutions related to Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS):
- AD FS 2.0 Troubleshooting Guide
- Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) Wiki Articles
- AD FS 2.0 Content Map
6. Solutions related to installing Windows updates or hotfixes:
- Fix Windows corruption errors such as 0x80070002 and 0x80070057
- You cannot install some updates or programs in Windows XP
- How to address disk space issues that are caused by a large Windows component store (WinSxS) directory
- How does Windows choose which version of a file to install...
- How branching works for installing updates - The Windows ...
- The Windows Servicing Guy - Site Home - TechNet Blogs
- Troubleshoot common installation issues in Windows Update, Microsoft Update, and Windows Server Update Services
- How to read the Windowsupdate.log file
7. 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))
- Common DFSR Configuration Mistakes and Oversights
- DFSR Event ID 2213 is logged on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012
- List of currently available hotfixes for Distributed File System (DFS) technologies in Windows Server 2008 and in Windows Server 2008 R2
- The performance of DFS Replication in Windows Server 2008 is slower than expected on a WAN connection, and no error message is logged in the DFS Replication log
8. Solutions related to Active Directory Certificate Services:
- Designing and Implementing a PKI: Part III Certificate Templates
- Troubleshooting PKI Problems on Windows
- Having a problem with nodes being removed from active Failover ...
- Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) Overview
- Revoking certificates and publishing CRLs: Public Key
- How to add a Subject Alternative Name to a secure LDAP certificate
- How to enable LDAP over SSL with a third-party certification authority
- How to troubleshoot LDAP over SSL connection problems
- Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Troubleshooting Certificate Autoenrollment in Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)
9. Solutions related to system hangs:
- PRF: Perceived System Sluggishness - Ask the Performance ...
- 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
10. Solutions related to Clustering and High Availability issues:
- Recommended hotfixes for Windows Server 2008-based server clusters
- Recommended hotfixes and updates for Windows Server 2008 R2-based server clusters
- Recommended hotfixes and updates for Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Failover Clusters
- Cluster Shared Volume Functionality
- Event ID 5136 — Cluster Shared Volume Functionality
- Event ID 1146 — Cluster Service Startup
- Introduction to the Cluster Quorum Model - Clustering and High ...
- How to troubleshoot FailoverCluster issues in Windows Server 2008 R2