Unexpected error refreshing Server Manager: Attempted to read past the end of the stream.

Got the following error on a Server 2008R2 machine I was trying to build.

Unexpected error refreshing Server Manager: Attempted to read past the end of the stream.
This appeared whenever I tried to open Roles or Features or tried to add a feature.

Some searching led me to an older version of a Microsoft product

Well the new one is here and its better;

System Update Readiness Tool for Windows Vista, for Windows Server 2008, for Windows 7, and for Windows Server 2008 R2

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821/en-us

No need to download anything other than the program update and run it. It pops off, finds the errors and downloads them.

10 minutes later all over and done with.

Direct link for those busy people.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyId=c4b0f52c-d0e4-4c18-aa4b-93a477456336&displaylang=en


Hope it helps someone.

New Microsoft MAP Toolkit 5.5 released

Microsoft have release the latest version of the MAP Toolkit 5.5 after the Beta trial.


http://www.microsoft.com/map


Handy program for a lot of things;
What servers have I on my network?
What Clients have I on my network?
What software have I on my network?
What can I virtualise on my Network?


All in all very cool.


So what do you need?

Well for an OS, here's the list;

• Windows 7
• Windows Vista® Ultimate, Enterprise, or Business Editions
• Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 or later
• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2003 R2
• Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 or later

Note: MAP will run on either x86 or x64 versions of the operating system. Itanium processors are not supported. MAP will not install on Home or Home Server editions of Windows. 


What else do you need?

.NET Framework 3.5SP1 (3.5.30729.01) (download from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=129686)

Windows Installer 4.5 (download from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=129687)

Microsoft Office Word 2007 SP2 or Word 2010

Microsoft Office Excel 2007 SP2 or Excel 2010

Microsoft Office Primary Interop Assemblies For Microsoft Office 2007 you will need to install these from the Microsoft Office 2007 setup files.

Installation of all updates for the operating system and Microsoft Office. Note: In some cases updates may not install automatically. To download updates for your computer manually, go to http://update.microsoft.com.

By default, the MAP Toolkit will download and install SQL Server 2008 R2 Express Edition during setup. You may also use an existing installation of Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008 or SQL Server 2008 R2 if you create an instance named "MAPS" before running the MAP Toolkit installer. 

What else? 

If you have feedback try here, to the MAP team: MAPfdbk (at ) microsoft.com

MAP team Blog :http://blogs.technet.com/mapblog

I'll get some screen dumps next time.