This is a new, new, installation of Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials followed by Exchange 2013, all on a single server that is also the DC, in a lab environment. This is to replace an existing SBS2000 installation in a small business. Server 2012 setup without any significant issues. The first pass at Exchange 2013 resulted in "access denied" when attempting to access the Exchange Management PS and login credentials failure for Exchange EAC (ECP). After manually adding the installation Administrator to a number of the Exchange security groups, I was able to access Exchange Manager. I checked that there was a mailbox associated with the Installation Admin ID, attempted to reset passwords and a number of other things to no avail. I uninstalled Exchange (what a pain).
I reinstalled Exchange. As with the first time, no prerequisite errors and no installation failure alerts. Again, I could not access Exchange Manager (access denied) or the EAC (login credentials failure). This time, I was not able change the security group permissions to gain access to Exchange Manager. Again, checked about everything there was to check on the web and found a reference to Exchange possibly not installing correctly due to lingering entries from the first install. As I could not access Exchange Manager to perform the uninstall prerequisites, I attempted to manually delete it (nothing to loose at this point), but made the anticipated mess.
Wiped the RAID and started over with a clean sheet install of Server 2012 Essentials-OK. Progressed in the Exchange install prep to "Prepare Active Directory and Domains" (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125224(v=exchg.150).aspx) and stopped when I could not detect the confirming ADSI entries of AD prep set forth at the close of the TechNet document.
I methodically stepped through the install procedure and again received no prerequisite failures or installation failure alerts. I examined the install logs and found no errors, either.
Any words of wisdom?