While trying to install Active Directory Domain Service though Server Manager on Windows 2008 R2, the installation failed without much detail.
If you have a look at :
%appdata%\Local\Temp\ServerManager.Log
%appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\ServerManager\ServerManagerExceptions.log
You will find something like this :
2404: 2013-08-21 20:41:59.643 [CbsUIHandler] Error: -2147021879 :
2404: 2013-08-21 20:41:59.643 [CbsUIHandler] Terminate:
2404: 2013-08-21 20:41:59.706 [InstallationProgressPage] Verifying installation…
2404: 2013-08-21 20:41:59.768 [CBS] …done installing ‘DirectoryServices-DomainController ‘. Status: -2147021879 (80070bc9)
2404: 2013-08-21 20:41:59.768 [Provider] Skipped configuration of ‘Active Directory Domain Controller’ because install operation failed.
Open Services :
Administrative Tools > Services
Make sure that the following services are enabled and running :
Remote Registry
TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper