WSUS Complete Clean Removal and Re-install - Server 2012 R2 SP1 x64

[seahorse]

I have been attempting to install WSUS on Server 2012 R2 SP1 x64 with a few Hiccups.

Firstly I believe it went well until I realised System Center Essentials 2010 installs its own WSUS version and uninstalled it.

System Center refused to install thereafter due to WSUS still being present after I had uninstalled it, however any attempt to clean it has been futile.

The only documentation I can find is in reference to Server 2012 not R2 and msiexec uninstall string for x64 isn't recognised.

I have deleted the iis entries and any registry reg entries I can find to no avail.

Out of interest I attempted to reinstall WSUS via Server Manager only to be presented with an error relating to an Invalid Installation Directory.

This I can partially put down to it being a DC which isn't recommended of course. As far as I know either WSUS or System Center Essentials should still work regardless just not efficiently.

 

Can anyone confirm whether I'm wrong about this?

 

I require either solution but am happy just to get WSUS up and running and utilize an alternate solution to System Center.

 

Thank you for any advice.

[CraigM]

Honestly, your best bet here is to probably format and reinstall - it will save you time and sanity rather than trying to find obscure registry entries or running commands. If you can, install your software on a second member server, or test in a VM. Leave your DC's alone as much as possible.

[seahorse]

Thank you for the reply.

Unfortunately there are few options available other than a database server to install on.

I think I may have found the culprit but haven't had a chance to reinstall yet.