I'm trying to install Exchange Server 2013 and I keep getting this error and I am unable to progress, I can't find any support on the issue and frankly I don't want to/can't afford to spend $500 to ask Microsoft for technical support (what kind of racket do they think they're running?).

The error message:

Error:
The following error was generated when "$error.Clear(); 
          New-PushNotificationsVirtualDirectory -Role Mailbox -DomainController $RoleDomainController;
        " was run: "The Active Directory object for virtual directory 'IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications' on 'SVR02' could not be created. This might be because the object already exists in Active Directory. Remove the object from Active Directory, then re-create it.".

Yet, I see no PushNotifications virtual directory or anything remotely related to that on IIS or in the inetpub folders and files. If I try to resume the set-up after this error I get:

Error:
The following error was generated when "$error.Clear(); 
          New-PushNotificationsVirtualDirectory -Role Mailbox -DomainController $RoleDomainController;
        " was run: "The AD configuration for virtual directory 'PushNotifications' already exists in 'CN=PushNotifications (Exchange Back End),CN=HTTP,CN=Protocols,CN=SVR02,CN=Servers,CN=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT),CN=Administrative Groups,CN=OFFICE,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=OFFICE,DC=local', please remove this AD configuration manually.
Parameter name: VirtualDirectoryName".

And I have to remove this config using ADSI Edit, which just returns me to the first error.

Hi,

Few questions before we try to sort this out.

1. Is this a lab or production; If lab how about start from scratch(DC too)
2. How many DCs do you have and how many sites
3. Are you installing it part by part(/PrepareSchema, /PrepareAD, /PrepareAllDomains) or direct setup.exe GUI - You should give time for AD replication
4. Verify the Exchange AD version
5. Any specific reason for installing EX2013SP1, as CU8 is released already
6. Just to confirm what additional logs say; any warning or error messages related to Exchange setup

•  Exchange Setup logs events in the Application log of Event Viewer.
•  You can find the setup log file at <system drive>\ExchangeSetupLogs\ExchangeSetup.log.

Similar issue in this article Exchange 2013 CU3 failed; multiple errors

1. Prodution

2. Just 1 DC for 1 site.

3. Setup.EXE

4. Matches SP1 version numbers

5. That's just what was made available to me via MSPP, the installer doesn't see any updates?

6. Here is the log files:

[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0940] [1] Setup failed previously while performing the action Install.  Looking for the failed task with ID ClientAccessComponent___75f8c93d15314369983d33ec0742e189.
[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0941] [1] 131 tasks were found to run.
[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0941] [1] Processing component 'Client Access Configuration' (Configuring Mailbox role: Client Access service.).
[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0941] [1] Executing: 
          New-PushNotificationsVirtualDirectory -Role Mailbox -DomainController $RoleDomainController;
        
[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0955] [2] Active Directory session settings for 'New-PushNotificationsVirtualDirectory' are: View Entire Forest: 'True', Configuration Domain Controller: 'SVR01.OFFICE.local', Preferred Global Catalog: 'SVR01.OFFICE.local', Preferred Domain Controllers: '{ SVR01.OFFICE.local }'
[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0956] [2] User specified parameters:  -Role:'Mailbox' -DomainController:'SVR01.OFFICE.local'
[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0956] [2] Beginning processing New-PushNotificationsVirtualDirectory
[03/23/2015 22:06:52.0999] [2] Searching objects "SVR02.OFFICE.local" of type "Server" under the root "$null".
[03/23/2015 22:06:53.0066] [2] Previous operation run on domain controller 'SVR01.OFFICE.local'.
[03/23/2015 22:06:53.0068] [2] Processing object "SVR02\PushNotifications".
[03/23/2015 22:06:56.0763] [2] The properties changed on the object '' (CN=PushNotifications (Exchange Back End),CN=HTTP,CN=Protocols,CN=SVR02,CN=Servers,CN=Exchange Administrative Group (FYDIBOHF23SPDLT),CN=Administrative Groups,CN=OFFICE,CN=Microsoft Exchange,CN=Services,CN=Configuration,DC=OFFICE,DC=local) are: "{ MetabasePath[msExchMetabasePath]='IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications', AuthenticationMethodFlags[msExchInternalAuthenticationMethods]='Ntlm, WindowsIntegrated', AuthenticationMethodFlags[msExchExternalAuthenticationMethods]='Ntlm, WindowsIntegrated', Id[distinguishedName]='SVR02\PushNotifications (Exchange Back End)', InternalAuthenticationMethods[msExchInternalAuthenticationMethods]={ 'Ntlm', 'WindowsIntegrated' }, ExternalAuthenticationMethods[msExchExternalAuthenticationMethods]={ 'Ntlm', 'WindowsIntegrated' }, OrganizationId[msExchOURoot, msExchCU]='' }".
[03/23/2015 22:06:56.0764] [2] Saving object "SVR02\PushNotifications (Exchange Back End)" of type "ADPushNotificationsVirtualDirectory" and state "New".
[03/23/2015 22:06:57.0073] [2] Previous operation run on domain controller 'SVR01.OFFICE.local'.
[03/23/2015 22:06:57.0587] [2] [ERROR] The Active Directory object for virtual directory 'IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications' on 'SVR02' could not be created. This might be because the object already exists in Active Directory. Remove the object from Active Directory, then re-create it.
[03/23/2015 22:06:57.0591] [2] [ERROR] Filename: \\?\C:\Windows\system32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config
Line number: 630
Error: Can not log on locally to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\ClientAccess\PushNotifications as user OFFICE\Administrator with virtual directory password


[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0378] [2] [ERROR] The Active Directory object for virtual directory 'IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications' on 'SVR02' could not be created. This might be because the object already exists in Active Directory. Remove the object from Active Directory, then re-create it.
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0378] [2] [ERROR] Filename: \\?\C:\Windows\system32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config
Line number: 630
Error: Can not log on locally to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\ClientAccess\PushNotifications as user OFFICE\Administrator with virtual directory password


[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0386] [2] Ending processing New-PushNotificationsVirtualDirectory
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0388] [1] The following 1 error(s) occurred during task execution:
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0388] [1] 0.  ErrorRecord: The Active Directory object for virtual directory 'IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications' on 'SVR02' could not be created. This might be because the object already exists in Active Directory. Remove the object from Active Directory, then re-create it.
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0389] [1] 0.  ErrorRecord: System.InvalidOperationException: The Active Directory object for virtual directory 'IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications' on 'SVR02' could not be created. This might be because the object already exists in Active Directory. Remove the object from Active Directory, then re-create it. ---> System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: Filename: \\?\C:\Windows\system32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config
Line number: 630
Error: Can not log on locally to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\ClientAccess\PushNotifications as user OFFICE\Administrator with virtual directory password


   at Microsoft.Web.Administration.Interop.IAppHostAdminManager.GetAdminSection(String bstrSectionName, String bstrPath)
   at Microsoft.Web.Administration.Configuration.GetSectionInternal(ConfigurationSection section, String sectionPath, String locationPath)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.ExchangeServiceVDirHelper.SetAuthModule(Boolean EnableModule, Boolean isChildVDirApplication, String moduleName, String moduleType, ExchangeVirtualDirectory advdir)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.ExchangeServiceVDirHelper.SetLiveIdBasicAuthModule(Boolean EnableModule, Boolean isChildVDirApplication, ADExchangeServiceVirtualDirectory advdir)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.NewExchangeServiceVirtualDirectory`1.InternalProcessComplete()
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.NewPushNotificationsVirtualDirectory.InternalProcessComplete()
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.NewExchangeVirtualDirectory`1.InternalProcessRecord()
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Configuration.Tasks.Task.WriteError(Exception exception, ErrorCategory category, Object target, Boolean reThrow, String helpUrl)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Configuration.Tasks.Task.WriteError(Exception exception, ErrorCategory category, Object target)
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemConfigurationTasks.NewExchangeVirtualDirectory`1.InternalProcessRecord()
   at Microsoft.Exchange.Configuration.Tasks.Task.ProcessRecord()
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0389] [1] [ERROR] The following error was generated when "$error.Clear(); 
          New-PushNotificationsVirtualDirectory -Role Mailbox -DomainController $RoleDomainController;
        " was run: "The Active Directory object for virtual directory 'IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications' on 'SVR02' could not be created. This might be because the object already exists in Active Directory. Remove the object from Active Directory, then re-create it.".
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0389] [1] [ERROR] The Active Directory object for virtual directory 'IIS://SVR02.OFFICE.local/W3SVC/24/ROOT/PushNotifications' on 'SVR02' could not be created. This might be because the object already exists in Active Directory. Remove the object from Active Directory, then re-create it.
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0389] [1] [ERROR] Filename: \\?\C:\Windows\system32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config
Line number: 630
Error: Can not log on locally to C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\ClientAccess\PushNotifications as user OFFICE\Administrator with virtual directory password


[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0390] [1] [ERROR-REFERENCE] Id=ClientAccessComponent___75f8c93d15314369983d33ec0742e189 Component=EXCHANGE14:\Current\Release\Shared\Datacenter\Setup
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0390] [1] Setup is stopping now because of one or more critical errors.
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0390] [1] Finished executing component tasks.
[03/23/2015 22:06:58.0406] [1] Ending processing Install-ClientAccessRole

It says it can not log on with the supplied details, but the account is an Administrator account with full privileges so I can't see why this would be the case.

Hi,

Is this a fresh installation?

If yes, please make sure all Exchange 2013 prerequisites are installed and prepared Active Directory and domains.

Back to this error, please try to remove all the virtual directories under Default Web Site and Exchange Back End from Adsiedit.

Then restart the Exchange setup to check this issue.

If there are any other errors, please let me know.

Best Regards.

Hi,

Looks to me some permissions issue, hope you don't have custom GPO's acting on the Exchange server object in AD. Just to confirm the Prep was fine.

Run all these seperately and confirm they are succesfully done once more using cmd.exe > setup.exe.(/PrepareSchema, /PrepareAD, /PrepareAllDomains)

And LASTly if this is the only exchange server in the organization\domain with no impact on removing it.

Follow the below article to clean it up:

Complete remove Exchange 2013 using ADSIEdit

The need to remove an Exchange 2013 server using ADSIEdit could have several reasons. The method using ADSIEdit to remove an Exchange server should only be used carefully.

The most common reasons are listed below:

• The deinstallation didnt finish properly and left attributes or entries in Active Directory
• The Exchange server is permanent offline and Exchange should be removed
• An Exchange installation didnt finish properly and the attributes and entries should be removed

To remove the server open ADSI-Edit and go to configuration

Navigate to this path:

CN=Configuration,DC=DOMAIN,DC=LOCAL
CN=Services
->; DELETE
CN=Microsoft Exchange
CN=Microsoft Exchange Autodiscover

CN=Default naming context,DC=DOMAIN,DC=LOCAL
->; DELETE
CN=Microsoft Exchange Security Groups
CN=Microsoft Exchange Security Objects

Additional steps:

Hard Disk:
On the servers hard disk youve to DELETE the Exchange Server installation folder.
Usually its C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server

IIS:
DELETE the Exchange Back End and Front End websites with the IIS-Manager

AD Users and Computers:
DELETE the following users in the Users container:

DiscoverySearch Mailbox{GUID}
Exchange Online-ApplicationAccount
FederatedEmail.GUID
Migration.GUID
*SystemMailbox{GUID}
*HealthMailboxGUID

Registry:
DELETE the key ExchangeServer under:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft

DELETE the keys MSExchange* under:
HKLM\CurrentControlSet\Services

You also Might consider :

*Deleting the computer object

*Fresh install of Win2012R2;

*Rename it and Join to domain

Hi,

Regarding the non availability of the lastest download in MSPP.

You can download it from the below link and use the existing 2013 licenses for it.

http://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3030080

Download Cumulative Update 8 for Exchange Server 2013 (KB3030080) now.       (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=d35032f4-1012-4292-9e7d-77e85ec1c092)   

Notes

• The Cumulative Update 8 package can be used to perform a new installation of Exchange Server 2013 or to upgrade an existing Exchange Server 2013 installation to Cumulative Update 8.
• You do not have to install Cumulative Update 1 or a later cumulative update for Exchange Server 2013 when you install Cumulative Update 8.