Deploy Exchange 2007 on Windows 2008 - ExchangeSetupLogs directory permission error
I am attempting to set up Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows 2008 RTM. I have deployed all of the Exchange 2007 pre-req's that are required on Windows 2008. Thre problem is that if I run Setup /PrepareSchema on the Exchange server, while logged in as the Domain Admin (who is in the local Administrators group), I get the following error immediately after the "Copying Setup Files ..... COMPLETED" appears: Failed to initialize the log file: Access to the path 'C:ExchangeSetupLogs\ExchangeSetup.log' is denied. Setup will not continue. This has happened multiple times. The next step is that I attempt to run the Setup /PrepareSchema as the local machine admin, and no problem writing to the log, but of course that local user doesn't have the necessary permissions on AD. I have given all manner of explicit permissions on the \ExchangeSetupLogs directory to no avail. Any ideas? This seems like a catch-22 to me and none of the "Guides to installing Exchange 2007 on Windows 2008" even make a passing reference to a problem like this. Thanks for any help. -Josh
February 14th, 2008 11:56pm

Hi Josh, I just hit the same issue. Did you happen to find a resolution? - Chris
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February 16th, 2008 10:25am

Chris, I have not had any luck getting this one solved yet. I can't imagine what the problem is. I have been able to recreate a similar problem when running the following command as a Domain Admin, so it is not just an Exchange issue: Servermanagercmd -i PowerShell I would think that if a Domain Admin is in the local administrators group, he would have permission to write to asimple log directory off the C: drive. Have you had any luck figuring this one out? Either we are the only two installing Exchange 2007 on Server 2008 or no one else is having this problem. I am tempted to go back to 2003, but after reading all the dire warnings about not being able to upgrade the OS on your Exchange box down the road, I would much rather puzzle it out.
February 26th, 2008 7:34am

Ok, figured this one out. You cannot install Exchange 2007 while UAC is enabled. Disable it and you won't have any problems with setup.exe not being able to access its setup logs. Problem solved.
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February 26th, 2008 8:32am

Hi Josh, Sorry for the late response. I just re-ran my setup as a local admin and it worked. It was smooth sailing for me after that, few hiccups with Outlook Anywhere but otherwise no issues. - Chris
March 3rd, 2008 12:19pm

Hey guys, I know its been awhile but have you experienced any issus with outlook web access. I'm running exchange sp1 on server 2008 but it takes forever to login to web access. We are using ISA 2004 but upgrading friday to ISA 2006. Hopefully this might fix it.
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April 22nd, 2008 11:10pm

Jester - no problems for us with OWA on Exchange 2007 SP1 on Windows 2008 (and IIS 7) through ISA 2006. Pretty much works as advertised, I am glad to say. Once I got split DNS up and running, any remaining kinks disappeared. I know this helps you exactly 0%, sorry about that. -Josh
April 30th, 2008 1:12am

now is May 2009, microsoft still hasn't fixed this problem no wonder people hate using MS products.
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May 7th, 2009 7:53am

hi,there is no problem while installing Exchange Server 2007 on windows Server 2008 anymore...regards,Mumin CICEK | Exchange - MVP | www.cozumpark.com | www.mumincicek.com
May 7th, 2009 6:48pm

hi, there is no problem while installing Exchange Server 2007 on windows Server 2008 anymore... regards, Mumin CICEK | Exchange - MVP | www.cozumpark.com | www.mumincicek.com Sorry, but I beg to differ... The problem still exists.
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October 30th, 2009 12:11am

In my case UAC was certainly related. To get around it - Create a shortbut to cmd.exe on the desktop, right click and run as administrator. Run your preperation commands and they should work. HTH
July 23rd, 2010 3:57pm

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