Microsoft plans to release crippled Windows Server 2019 Essentials
Microsoft announced plans to release Windows Server 2019 Essentials alongside Windows Server 2019 today. Windows Server Essentials, the current retail version is Windows Server 2016 Essentials, is specifically designed to address the needs of small businesses.
Small in this context refers to businesses with up to 25 users and up to 50 devices. Microsoft said there is a high probability that Windows Server 2019 Essentials will be the last edition of Windows Server Essentials. The company will support Server Essentials products based on the servicing timeline.
The characteristics of Windows Server 2019 Essentials don't change according to Microsoft when you compare them to the 2016 versions: user and device limits are the same, price will remain "low" and businesses will have options to "run traditional applications and other features, such as file and print sharing".
Windows Server 2019 Essentials will have the "same licensing and technical characteristics" as Windows Server 2016 Essentials.
If configured as a Domain Controller, Windows Server 2019 Essentials must be the only Domain Controller, must run all Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) roles, and cannot have two-way trusts with other Active Directory domains.
Microsoft notes furthermore that Windows Server 2019 Essentials will support new hardware and features such as Storage Migration Services or System Insights but that it won't include the Essentials Experience role.
The removal leaves some system administrators and small businesses in a precarious situation as Windows Server 2019 Essentials won't support the following features anymore because of that:
- Remote Web Access to the Server.
- Centralized Client PC backups.
- Office 365 integration.
Microsoft states that it talked to the MVP Community and "other influences" to understand the needs of small businesses and that the decision to release a Windows Server 2019 Essentials edition was the results of the talks.
At least one MVP that Microsoft consulted, Susan Bradley which you may know from the Ask Woody site, stated that Microsoft did indeed consult but that it appears that the company did not really react on the feedback provided.
As one of those MVPs referred to in the post, I can honestly say that while we gave feedback, it was not acted upon. This server is more like Foundation server, not Essentials. It does not have client backup nor Remote web accesss, two key technologies that now have to be replaced for those small business users and consultants that relied on those pieces.
Microsoft suggests that administrators and businesses use Windows Admin Center as a replacement for the lost functionality.
Closing Words
Microsoft's main motivation for crippling Windows Server Essentials is unknown but there is some evidence that it has something to do with getting as many businesses on Microsoft 365, especially Microsoft 365 Business.
Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that includes Windows 10, Office 365 and Enterprise Mobility & Security.
It seems very unlikely that Microsoft will release another Server Essentials edition after the 2019 version.
Now You: What is your take on the announcement?
What mental age of reader are you targeting with the first sentence? 10?
Why not write an article on how to *avoid* upgrading from W10 to W11. Analogous to those like me who avoided upgrading from 7 to 10 for as long as possible.
If your paymaster Microsoft permits it, of course.
5. Rufus
6. Ventoy
PS. I hate reading these “SEO optimized” articles.
I used Rufus to create an installer for a 6th gen intel i5 that had MBR. It upgraded using Setup. No issues except for Win 11 always prompting me to replace my local account. Still using Win 10 Pro on all my other PCs to avoid the bullying.
bit pointless to upgrade for the sake of upgrading as you never know when you’ll get locked out because ms might suddenly not provide updates to unsupported systems.
ps…. time travelling?
written. Jan 15, 2023
Updated • Jan 13, 2023
This happens when you schedule a post in WordPress and update it before setting the publication date.
Anyone willing to downgrade to this awful OS must like inflicting themselves with harm.
I have become convinced now that anybody who has no qualms with using Windows 11/10 must fit into one of the following brackets:
1) Too young to remember a time before W10 and W11 (doesn’t know better)
2) Wants to play the latest games on their PC above anything else (or deeply needs some software which already dropped W7 support)
3) Doesn’t know too much about how computers work, worried that they’d be absolutely lost and in trouble without the “”latest security””
4) Microsoft apologist that tries to justify that the latest “features” and “changes” are actually a good thing, that improve Windows
5) Uses their computer to do a bare minimum of like 3 different things, browse web, check emails, etc, so really doesn’t fuss
Obviously that doesn’t cover everyone, there’s also the category that:
6) Actually liked W7 more than 10, and held out as long as possible before switching, begrudgingly uses 10 now
Have I missed any group off this list?
You have missed in this group just about any professional user that uses business software like CAD programs or ERP Programs which are 99% of all professional users from this list.
Linux doesn’t help anyone who is not a linux kid and apple is just a fancy facebook machine.
Microsoft has removed KB5029351 update
only from windows update though
KB5029351 is still available from the ms update catalog site
1. This update is labaled as PREVIEW if it causes issues to unintelligent people, then they shouldn’t have allowed Preview updates ot install.
2. I have installed it in a 11 years old computer, and no problems at all.
3. Making a big drama over a bluescreen for an updated labeled as preview is ridiculous.
This is probably another BS internet drama where people ran programs and scripts that modified the registry until they broke Windows, just for removing stuff that they weren’t even using just for the sake of it.
Maybe people should stop playing geeks and actually either use Windows 10 or Windows 11, but don’t try to modify things just for the sake of it.
Sometimes removing or stopping things (like defender is a perfect example) only need intelligence, not scripts or 3rd party programs that might mess with windows.
Windows 11 was a pointless release, it was just created because some of the Windows team wanted to boost sales with some sort of new and improved Windows 10. Instead, Microsoft cannot support one version well let alone two.
Windows 11 is the worst ugly shame by Microsoft ever. They should release with every new W11 version a complete free version of Starallback inside just to make this sh** OS functionally again.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released a statement regarding the “unsupported processor” blue screen error for their boards using Intel 600/700 series chipsets & to avoid the KB5029351 Win11 update:
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/MSI-On–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–Error-Message-of-Windows-11-Update-KB5029351-Preview-142215
check out the following recent articles:
Neowin – Microsoft puts little blame on its Windows update after UNSUPPORTED PROCESSOR BSOD bug:
https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-puts-little-blame-on-its-windows-update-after-unsupported-processor-bsod-bug/
BleepingComputer – Microsoft blames ‘unsupported processor’ blue screens on OEM vendors:
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-blames-unsupported-processor-blue-screens-on-oem-vendors/
While there may be changes or updates to the Windows 10 Store for Business and Education in the future, it is premature to conclude that it will be discontinued based solely on rumors.
My advice, I left win 15 years ago. Now I’m a happy linux user (linuxmint) but there is Centos, Fedora, Ubuntu depending on your needs.
motherboard maker MSI has recently released new BIOS/firmware updates for their Intel 600 & 700 series motherboards to fix the “UNSUPPORTED_PROCESSOR” problem (Sept. 6):
https://www.msi.com/news/detail/Updated-BIOS-fixes-Error-Message–UNSUPPORTED-PROCESSOR–caused-BSOD-on-MSI-s-Intel-700-and-600-Series-Motherboards-142277