ADFS 3.0 > Cannot start service MSSQL$MICROSOFT##WID on computer ‘.’.

ADFS 3.0 Cannot start service MSSQL$MICROSOFT##WID

This week I had a problem installing Windows ADFS 3.0, on a Server 2012 R2 server.

This server was also a Domain controller. Unfortunately there was no possibility to install ADFS on an other server.

During the installation I received this error, over and over again;

Error:

Cannot start service MSSQL$MICROSOFT##WID on computer ‘.’.

Clicking on ‘Show more’ reveals no understandable error .

Go into the services, and look for the Windows Internal Database.

Tried starting the service manual

Then I received an error which showed the real problem.

I tried several settings for giving ‘logon as a service’ rights to several account, but nothing worked.

To work around the issue, use one of the following methods:

Solution 1:

Assign the Log on as a service user right to NT SERVICE\ALL SERVICES in the GPO that defines the user right.
Exclude the computer from the GPO that defines the user right.

Solution 2:

This flow did the trick for me, and can be used as a work around :

• Reboot the server
• Open the services (services.msc)
• Scroll down until you see services named Windows …
• Start the Post deployment process all over, in the Server manager dashboard.
• Switch over to services
• Continue hitting F5 until the Windows Internal Database service shows up.
• Double click the Windows Internal Database service
• Go to the Log On tab
• Select local system account
• Start the service
• Wait until the ADFS installation is finished.

More info about this:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2832204

It is not recommended to install the ADFS service role on a domain controller. The preferred method is to install this on a different server. Only install this service role on a domain controller, if you realy sure you don’t have another server available. This is stated on this Microsoft Technet page :

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc778681(WS.10).aspx