Validation errors for users/contacts/groups in the Office 365

Scenario:

You get something like:

Get-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName user@domain.com | fl *status*,errors

OverallProvisioningStatus : Success

ValidationStatus          : Error

Errors                    : {Microsoft.Online.Administration.ValidationError}

How to get more details about the "ValidationStatus" Error?

Solution:

for users:

$errors = (Get-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName "user@domain.com").Errors

for contacts:

$errors = (Get-MsolContact -ObjectID <Object_ID>).Errors

for groups:

$errors = (Get-MsolGroup -ObjectID <Object_ID>).Errors

and then expand $errors variable:

$errors | % {"`nService: "+ $_.ErrorDetail.Name.split("/")[0]; "Error Message: "+ $_.ErrorDetail.ObjectErrors.ErrorRecord.ErrorDescription}  

Example:

$errors = (Get-MsolUser -UserPrincipalName user@domain.com).Errors

$errors | % {“`nService: ” + $_.ErrorDetail.Name.split("/")[0]; “Error Message: ” + $_.ErrorDetail.ObjectErrors.ErrorRecord.ErrorDescription}

Service: exchange

Error Message: Exchange can't disable the mailbox "NAMPR07A002.prod.outlook.com/Microsoft Exchange Hosted Organizations/xxxxx.onmicrosoft.com/Soft Deleted Objects/UserNameHere" because it is on In-Place Hold.

Reference:

You see validation errors for users in the Office 365 portal or in the Azure Active Directory Module for Windows PowerShell

Install Windows Feature with DISM (without PowerShell)

Scenario:

Imagine that you can't Install-WindowsFeature (Add-WindowsFeature for 2008 R2) on Windows Server using PowerShell for some reason.

Recently I had a problem with broken WMI where I couldn't manage Windows Server features of affected server. My wish was to make Full Server backup prior to any changes with broken server using built-in "Windows Server Backup" and I couldn't install backup feature using PowerShell.

Solution:

DISM commands running from an Elevated Command Prompt (Admin) saved my life:

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:WindowsServerBackup
 
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.3.9600.17031

Image Version: 6.3.9600.17031
 
Enabling feature(s)
[==========================100.0%==========================]
The operation completed successfully.

Dism /online /enable-feature /featurename:WindowsServerBackupSnapin
 
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 6.3.9600.17031
 
Image Version: 6.3.9600.17031
 
Enabling feature(s)
[==========================100.0%==========================]
The operation completed successfully.

You can install any Windows feature in similar way. Get list of all available features and their names on server:

Dism /online /get-features /format:table | more

References:

• Enable or Disable Windows Features Using DISM

WMI is broken. "Configuration refresh failed with the following error: Invalid class"

Scenario:

When we start Server Manager on Windows Server 2012 R2 the flag lights up "Red" almost immediately with the error:

"Configuration refresh failed with the following error: Invalid class"

Get-WindowsFeature could end with the same "Invalid class" error.

Solution:

Backup WMI:

• Launch the WMI MMC snapin by Start -> Run -> then enter WMIMGMT.MSC
• Right click WMI Control (Local) and click Properties
• Tab Backup/Restore, press Back Up Now...

Recompile .mof & .mlf files by running the following commands from an Elevated Command Prompt (Admin):

CD C:\Windows\System32\WBEM
dir /b *.mof *.mfl | findstr /v /i uninstall > moflist.txt & for /F %s in (moflist.txt) do mofcomp %s

Refresh "Server Manager" or re-open it.

References:

• Server Manager 2012 : Configuration refresh failed with the following error: Invalid class
• Microsoft WMI class [0x80041010]