Win Server 2019/2016 General questions and discussions

[jaynyc]

the main AO product page has been updated for Windows Server 2019!

 

https://hypertrap.com/arch/hist/jkeklw32q9/skioub39lz#dm=wbw

 

https://www.highend-audiopc.com/audiophile-optimizer

[AudioPhil]

6 minutes ago, jaynyc said:

the main AO product page has been updated for Windows Server 2019!

 

https://hypertrap.com/arch/hist/jkeklw32q9/skioub39lz#dm=wbw

 

https://www.highend-audiopc.com/audiophile-optimizer

You better hypertrap the change log

 

https://www.highend-audiopc.com/changelog

 

Best,

AudioPhil

[jaynyc]

done.

 

https://hypertrap.com/arch/hist/bvei2rfdmk/edm1n7n0d4

 

anyone who wants to piggy back onto the automatic email alerts can just click Follow

[AudioPhil]

11 minutes ago, jaynyc said:

done.

 

https://hypertrap.com/arch/hist/bvei2rfdmk/edm1n7n0d4

 

anyone who wants to piggy back onto the automatic email alerts can just click Follow

This will ruthlessly expose my obsession for correcting typos... 😂

[Quadman]

Question, does win server 2019 work with wifi?  and if so is it easy to set up?  My audio room has no ethernet access so wifi is what i run in my win 10 pro setup.

[AudioPhil]

9 hours ago, Quadman said:

Question, does win server 2019 work with wifi?  and if so is it easy to set up?  My audio room has no ethernet access so wifi is what i run in my win 10 pro setup.

Hi

 

Yes, please see page 21 of our main pdf guide. Install your WiFi driver and either install the Wireless LAN feature by hand or use our ServiceTool to do so:

 

Best,

AudioPhil

 

[Quadman]

@AudioPhil, Thank you.  Loving what 3.0 does to win 10 pro.  Based on your ranking you think 19 server desktop will be a nice improvement in sound?  One last question what is this about CAL's do you need any for server standard desktop on a single one user PC?

[AudioPhil]

16 hours ago, Quadman said:

@AudioPhil, Thank you.  Loving what 3.0 does to win 10 pro.  Based on your ranking you think 19 server desktop will be a nice improvement in sound?  One last question what is this about CAL's do you need any for server standard desktop on a single one user PC?

Hey

 

it will be much more than a nice improvement. Use Server 2019 in GUI and you‘ll get about the sound quality of Server 2016 in core. And this is almost night and day compared to Windows 10. It‘s mich easier and faster to install and configure than Windows 10 as well. And no hassle related to Core and still around 95% of its sound quality in GUI, so Server 2019 GUI is clearly the way to go.

 

Setup Guide for 2019: https://pdf.highend-audiopc.com/windows_server_2019_setup_guide.pdf

 

Evaluation ISO Server 2019: https://www.highend-audiopc.com/iso/server-2019

 

5 CAL‘s are included with a Standard license, so no need to buy additional CAL‘s for Windows Server.

 

Best,

AudioPhil

[Quadman]

I got win server 2019 std with desktop experience loaded.  Installed HQPlayer 3.25.4 and roon server. I even got wifi working before AO install.  Loaded AO 3.0 and ran the optimizations.  I installed kernal streaming thinking it may be needed for tidal through Roon server, I said yes to waspi/mmcss, I disabled drivers and services and plug and play.  I did not disable AMD CPU/SATA drivers (thinking since I upsample to DSD512 and have a local HDD for music files that they were needed), I did not disable network services since I need them for tidal streaming (through roon), disabled remote desktop and management.  With ST I enabled auto logon and did a shell replacement of roonserver and HQP.

 

I have not listened to it other than through headphones to verify all works.  What surprised me most was the number of processes, handles and threads are almost identical to what I had with my win 10 pro set up with fidelizer pro (fidelizer is not installed on my server SSD).  Is that right?  I thought server was a much streamlined version of windows.  Now the SQ may be much improved, I won't know until tonight when I fire the system up.  I was surprised the processes are about equal to 10 pro.

 

Overall the server 2019 manual was pretty good, I wish it would have covered more example on some option thou.

 

[Quadman]

@AudioPhil Help.  I am having a hard time activating my 2019 server standard with desktop experience evaluation copy to a retail copy.

 

First I downloaded the eval copy from MS web site, same as your link on a second windows PC.  I then used rufus to make a bootable USB with this image.  I then used a clean SSD drive in my dedicated Audio PC, inserted the USB and started the PC, changed boot order to USB and it booted fine and installed exactly as you would expect.  I then installed my drivers, made sure no yellow signs in DM, installed HQP and Roonserver and got my wifi working.  I then installed AO3, activated it, it used the same hardware ID as my 10pro set up and the same activation key worked.  I then set up auto logon and then ran AO and I listened to music all last night it is better than 10 pro but not night and day.

 

Today I tried activating I searched the web and found best way to do it.  DISM get target in administrator command prompt and then change target.  Well I get this error and here is the DISM log

 

It looks like I don't have a valid windows system image??  WTF????

 

So I go into settings and check about system and I see this below and then check activation and see this below.

 

 

 

 

 

So it looks okay there but through command prompt and DISM it doesn't like something.  Any ideas what to do?

 

Thanks

 

[AudioPhil]

8 hours ago, Quadman said:

@AudioPhil Help.  I am having a hard time activating my 2019 server standard with desktop experience evaluation copy to a retail copy.

 

First I downloaded the eval copy from MS web site, same as your link on a second windows PC.  I then used rufus to make a bootable USB with this image.  I then used a clean SSD drive in my dedicated Audio PC, inserted the USB and started the PC, changed boot order to USB and it booted fine and installed exactly as you would expect.  I then installed my drivers, made sure no yellow signs in DM, installed HQP and Roonserver and got my wifi working.  I then installed AO3, activated it, it used the same hardware ID as my 10pro set up and the same activation key worked.  I then set up auto logon and then ran AO and I listened to music all last night it is better than 10 pro but not night and day.

 

Today I tried activating I searched the web and found best way to do it.  DISM get target in administrator command prompt and then change target.  Well I get this error and here is the DISM log

 

It looks like I don't have a valid windows system image??  WTF????

 

So I go into settings and check about system and I see this below and then check activation and see this below.

 

 

 

 

 

So it looks okay there but through command prompt and DISM it doesn't like something.  Any ideas what to do?

 

Thanks

 

Sorry, I have never seen this error before. You might try using the "change product key" button and just enter your retail key, this should work as well.

[Quadman]

14 hours ago, AudioPhil said:

Sorry, I have never seen this error before. You might try using the "change product key" button and just enter your retail key, this should work as well.

 

I decided to do another clean install.  Downloaded new ISO used rufus to make bootable USB, this time it took over 15 minutes to make USB whereas before it was less than one minute.  Installed server 19 and was able to convert to retail with the key I bought so all is good.  For some reason rufus didn't complete the process for first attempt although it installed and looked fine, but when I tried converting to retail version DISM didn't like the image.

 

 

[AudioPhil]

Rufus is most likely the problem, it is not suited for windows images as dar as I know. use the Windows Media Creation Tool or Windows 7 USB Tool to create your usb stick instead.

[Quadman]

7 hours ago, AudioPhil said:

use the Windows Media Creation Tool or Windows 7 USB Tool to create your usb stick instead.

I googled using media creation tool with server and got no hits or mentions of it working, I found manual script methods and of course rufus was suggested a lot.

 

Anyway with server 19 w GUI and AO3 and AFpro8.4 the sound took another positive step forward. More transparent, more dynamic, more there, more jump.  So much presence and stage width, dept and height was more pronounced.  Nicely done Phil.

 

 

 

[AudioPhil]

2 hours ago, Quadman said:

I googled using media creation tool with server and got no hits or mentions of it working, I found manual script methods and of course rufus was suggested a lot.

 

Anyway with server 19 w GUI and AO3 and AFpro8.4 the sound took another positive step forward. More transparent, more dynamic, more there, more jump.  So much presence and stage width, dept and height was more pronounced.  Nicely done Phil.

 

 

 

Here you go

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=56485

[billg]

I originally tried using Windows7-USB-DVD-Download-Tool buy could not get windows 2019 to boot so I used rufus successfully. Windows had no trouble accepting the license so I know it can work. Software is such fun. 

[juanitox]

just installed A.O 3.0  with windows serveur 2019 gui  ,what a pain to install Network driver on a aZus  motherboard  for a middle age geek 😀    but what a sound with  Roon +HQ player ,  far better than Windows 10 ,  Fidelizer seems to do nothing now ,  is it usefull to use the windows strip down utility in place of fidelizer ?

 

anyway thanks for the sound upgrade with A.O 3.0 😊

[AudioPhil]

Hi

 

the strip down feature is „windows 10“ only 😞

 

but be sure to set a shell replacement! 👍🏼

 

 

Best,

AudioPhil

[juanitox]

thanks phil ,   finally it works !

[Cazzesman]

Hi Phil or anyone else using a Mutec MC3+ USB with WS2019 and AO 3.0.

 

I am just about to undertake a new load of WS2019 to my CAPS Lagoon.     I plan on using a 2tb SSD and partition it for OS and Music.

 

2 questions)

 

1.   What Mutec Driver is best to download and use on WS2019?

2.   With WS2019, AO3.0, Jriver 24 and Fidelizer 8.4, would a 60 or 80gig partition be enough for this lot?

 

Regards Cazzesman

[AudioPhil]

Hi

 

I cannot comment on the driver since I use another DDC in front of the MC3+USB, but generally speaking I would use the latest one available.

 

60-80G would probably be enough for 3-4 times what you are planning for

 

Best,

AudioPhil

[Cazzesman]

Thanks for the prompt reply as always Phil.

 

Regards Cazzesman

[Cazzesman]

On 8/10/2019 at 6:16 PM, AudioPhil said:

Hi

 

I cannot comment on the driver since I use another DDC in front of the MC3+USB, but generally speaking I would use the latest one available.

 

60-80G would probably be enough for 3-4 times what you are planning for

 

Best,

AudioPhil

 

For those interested, I got a reply from Mutec re my Driver question for WS2019.

You should use the currently available driver from our website. That should work.

For Info.

Regards Cazzesman

[Cazzesman]

Hi Phil.

I have completed my Music PC rebuild with WS2019.   It was an entertaining process to say the least, being somewhat of PC novice.   Thankfully Google and Youtube vids got me through the process.  🙂

Installed AO 3.0 today as well as Fidelizer 8.4.   Together they are sounding superb so congrats on your efforts.  Just a couple of questions re what to enable/disable.

Re you Set-up guide..................

 

SCSI-Miniport Drivers.  Be very careful if you want to use this option. Only use it if you have IDE or SATA drives. Do not use this option under any circumstances if you have SAS, SCSI or RAID drives. If you still do so your system might not be able to boot again

 

Phil does enabling/disabling this aspect have a big effect on SQ?   I think it is safe from me to Disable.  I have the following setup.   If it has no great effect on SQ I will leave it alone.

 

My CAPS Lagoon is headless and I have MB is Intel DN280MT.   I have the Sotm PCIe attached.  I run two Sata drives - 128 gig for OS and Apps and 2tb for music storage.    I do have a NAS for storage but at this time it won't be feeding the Music PC. 

 

Network related Services.    This is one of the most important settings to decide about. Especially on the Audio PC it is very important to disable all network related services; this will result in a very nice step-up in overall sound quality. If you decide to disable network related services, Remote Desktop and Windows Remote Management will be automatically disabled as well. Depending on your scenario (Control PC for example), disabling all network related services also means dealing with some drawbacks. Depending on your needs, it might be best not to disable network related services on the Control PC. If you use network drives or a NAS, you won’t be able to connect to them anymore.

 

I have kept the Network services on as I want to see the Music PC on my Network to make minor changes as required.    I also run Remote Desktop Connection so have Enabled same.     I take it 'Remote Management' is having an Outside Connection via something like "LogmeIn'.  As I don't use such software I take it I can Disable it in AO and it won't affect any Network connections?

 

Thanks again

 

Regards Cazzesman

[Cazzesman]

Started my mini PC music overhaul a few days back.   I will say right out of the gate I am no PC wiz.   I have an IT mate I can call for help but I try and muddle through it myself.   I built my original CAPS Lagoon myself about 6 or 7 years ago following the guidelines from the original Computer Audiophile Site.

 

I know enough about building PC's to know that Google is your friend.  There is almost nothing you can't research these days and more often than not there is a Youtube vid to run you through it.

 

After much pondering I decided to go with what I know best,.   I'm installing WS2019, Audiophile Optimizer 3.0, Fidelizer 8.4 and JRiver Ver 25 plus adding an additional internal 2tb SSD on which to store my music.    SSD was Samsung QVO.   The WS2019 trial download can be reset 5 times over a 3 year period so no initial outlay

 

I am a simple listener.  I put on a CD (Flac version) and listen all the way through.   I like it that way.   I don't do Internet Radio, Tidal, Roon, MQA, HQPlayer, DSD files etc, etc.    I use JRiver and my flacs are 24/96 at most.   I try and work with the KISS principle.    

 

Along the way over several days there were some of those '@#$% you' PC moments.    Anyone who has worked on a DIY PC knows what I mean.     Most of it was simply based on my lack of knowledge plus some minor hardware hiccups.    

I removed the Audio PC from the Audio Cabinet, set it up on my desk and took the lid off. The case is a LGX_MC500_Mini-ITX.

 

• ·       1st issue I came across.     The Sata Power cable didn't stretch far enough to connect with the 2nd SSD so off to shop to buy a Sata Power splitter cable.   All good. $8.50 later, back home.
• 2nd issue.    Plugged in the power supply (PS) and guess what?    It had @#$% died.    The 9 metre trip from cabinet to desk must have been too much for it.       The PS is a 12 vlt - 5.85 Amp and I had nothing similar.   So off to the shop for a new one.   $74 later and back home.
• 3rd issue.   Now PS working but the On/Off button had ceased operation and the PC wouldn't switch on.   Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!  

There may have been a small tear in the corner of my eye but I battled on.    I was dubious whether the On/Off Button had died or the MB had expired, so I had to trouble shoot.     Did some Googling and ended up finding out that if the On/Off was dead, I could jump-start the MB with a screwdriver by shorting the MB Power pins on the MB.   With great trepidation I gave it a try.   What did I have to lose I told myself???????     Ahhhhhhhh!!!!

 

'Let there be Light' the machine fired up.    "Hallelujah"!!!!!!       I later fiddled with the connecting pins b/t the on/off button and the MB and guess what?  The On/Off button came back to life.    Go figure.   Maybe just a dry joint.    I gave it the Deox-It Gold treatment so hopefully it will stay working.

That was enough for one day.   My brain hurt.         

Day 2

 

When working with PC stuff I find it is the little things that just take time.   Being a novice of sorts I have to stop and Google stuff all the time to make sure what I am doing is right.

 

Even the simple thing like formatting a USB stick.   If I ever knew it, I don't recall, but I was trying to put a 4.6gig WS2019 ISO file onto a 16 Gig stick after it was formatted to a bootable disk using 'Fat32'.  Computer says 'No!'  4.6 gig no can fit it tells me.   I scratch my thinning hairline and do some Googling.  I find out Fat32 only allows files up to 4 gig.  It's the NTFS file system you have to use for 4+.    See it's the little stuff.

 

Used Rufus free software to make the disk Bootable.    Had to work-out what FreeDos was vs MS-Dos etc.  More time reading.

Then I had to Google the difference between a Motherboard with Bios and UEFI as that apparently makes a difference to how you turn the Stick into a bootable one.       In my Audio PC's Bios directory there was an option to enable UEFI so I thought yep that's it and turned it on.   Nope, bootable disk wouldn't work.    Back to the drawing board.    Turns out it was a Bios MB.  

 

Finally got WS2019 installed.  Installed JRiver, Fideliser and assorted Drivers for Sotm and Mutec.     Went to pay for the Upgraded version of Audiophile Optimizer 3.0 via the sites Paypal website 5 or 6 times and it just kept 'thinking'.

 

I was using 'Explorer' at the time so I had a hunch based on some old experience.  Downloaded Firefox Browser, went through the AO 3.0 payment scheme via Paypal and it worked in a jiffy.    Damn Computers!!!!

 

That's enough for day 2.

 

 Day 3

 

 Today was; install the 2tb SSD, load it with 950gig of music, sort out JRemote to drive JRiver on the Ipads, sort Remote Desk Connection (RDC) to the Audio PC as it will be 'headless',  sort out JRiver so that it auto loads the Music from the new 2tb 'D' Drive and sort File sharing from Audio PC to my main PC plus Mapping network drives.     No probs - 15 mins work. 😛

 

SSD worked fine once assigned a 'Letter' and formatted.  plugged in my External HDD with my music catalogue backup and started the slow process.   MB only has USB 2 inputs so I have split it in halve and the 1st 500gig took 5 hours.   

 

JRemote setup easily and JRiver Library creation was pretty simple.   The Music files were going from External HDD to internal 'D' Drive where JRiver software sucked the files from the 'D' drive into the JRiver Library.    It was a joy to watch the Album covers pop up on screen.

 

RDC went pretty smoothly with only a few google searches needed.   It is now again possible for me to log in from my main PC to the Audio PC.

 

Today's tricky bit was the Sharing Folders and Having them appear in my Main PC's Windows Explorer Tree.    Lots of Google searching and Youtube watching to nut that one out.    The main hurdle was working out why WS2019 would not retain the selection I kept making with 'Discovery Network'.    I would turn it to 'On' and each time I left the screen it Auto Reverted to 'Off'.     Phil I'm not sure if this has come up before but it might be worth a 'Sticky' thread of its own.  

 

Eventually a great Youtube video, on just that problem, informed me WS2019 had a number of File settings within the back end of Task Manager that aren't Enabled off the bat, to allow Network Discovery.    Once those files were 'Enabled' and set to 'Auto' instead of 'Manual' the Network Discovery button stayed On and Enabled me to find the Audio PC on my Network.

 

File sharing of Folders with the Audio PC and my Main PC also took abit of work to figure out, via more Google searches.    WS2019 has more fail safes than W7 it would appear.    More boxes to tick and un-tick to get it working.    

 

Finally got the Audio PC recognised on the network on my Main PC and I now have access to swap and play with my Music files.      What this now means is I can 'Acquire Music' on my main PC, copy it onto the Headless Audio PC 'D' drive (JRiver software will auto load it to the Library) and I can also copy it onto the NAS.   I will now have 3 backups of my music catalogue.

Slow and steady wins the Race 🙂   Enough for day 3 and I left let the Audio PC copying the 2nd 500gig of music files. 

Day 4.    

Someone within my workforce once reiterated the old adage.......

'Prior Preparation Prevents Pi55 Poor Performance'.      Words to live by I guess and hopefully the last 3 days will put it all into practice.   With that in my mind I installed Audiophile Optimzer (AO)  3.0 and then Fidelizer 8.4.

 

All looked good, so back in the System the Music PC went.     Now it's Music PC - USB cable from Sotm PCIe into Mutec - AES cable out to Kii3.    Simple.   

 

Plugged it all in, opened JRiver, selected a Track to test and............................................................

 

Blow Me Down, It Worked First Time!!!!!!!    There was glorious music filling the room.   

 

I may have shed a small tear again, but only one.    🙂

 

About this Project.................

 

Since I bought the Kii 3's I have really wanted to make sure they were being provided with the best source material I could find.    Yes I could have bought an 'Off the Shelf' item but as an Audio friend tells me, 'Buy stuff that is future proof as best you can.'   

 

In the digital world Future Proof is about 3 1/2 weeks.  With this project I can move with the times as and when.   With an 'Off the Shelf' device you are locked into what the Manufacturer wants to do.       Also I think the cost of an 'Off the Shelf' unit that sounds as good as my DIY unit, would be many $1000's.

 

I am happy with my Room Treatment, Kii 3's, Isolation Transformer for Power and the Mutec for Re-clocking the USB signal.   

 

What did it cost?   Not including the hours spent of course, which was priceless 😛

Australian $$$ 

2 tb SSD    $274

Sata Power cable Splitter   $8.50

New Power supply (Unexpected cost)    $74.

Upgrade to AO 3.0    $69

JRiver upgrade from 18-25   $40

Total $465.50

 

As for WS2019 the cost is unknown as it is not applicable for 3 years, by which time I would hope whatever the cost of it is today will be cheaper by then.

 

I obviously leaned plenty during the rebuild and one the reasons I have written about it is a) to inform those on this and another Audio Site in Australia that might be vaguely interested and b) So that these words might jog my memory on the nuances the next time I decide to go around again.   In another 6 years I suspect all will be forgotten again so here is my prompt. 

 

Time to get a Cuppa and a sandwich, put the chair in position 1A and chill out with some fine tunes.

 

Thanks to Phil, Keetakawee and the JRiver team for the work they have done.

 

Regards Cazzesman