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This article applies to:

Exchange 2010 Release Candidate,  Windows 2008 SP2, English, 64bit

Exchange 2010 Release Candidate, Windows 2008 R2, English, 64 bit

PROBLEM:

During setup Exchange 2010 does detailed check on prerequisites, but does not install them for you. You are expected to do manully install and configure all required hotfixes, server components and services which is ineficient and time consuming.

SOLUTION:  

Use one of the batch files provided below.

The batch file takes care of everything (installs hotfixes, enables required services, installs Windows server components, reboots the server)  and is optimized to do everything in a single pass with a single reboot (if required).

Two variations batch files are provided:

a) ex2010. bat - this one will present you with menu options and allow you to select individually for which Exchange roles you would like prerequisites to be installed (for example just for mailbox role).

b) ex2010turbo.bat - this one is a "full auto" script which installs all the prerequisites for all Exchange roles without any input required from the user. Start it, go for a coffe, and by the time you are back your server is restarted with everything installed on it, ready for Exchange 2010 to be deployed. 

Prerequisites are different for Windows 2008  and Windows 2008 R2, so please make sure you use correct version of the scripts and updates.

For Windows 2008 SP2:

1) Download

•  .Net Framework 3.5. SP1        
• PowerShell and Windows management
• Microsoft Filter Pack

2) Download the following  batch files, unzip and run from the directory where you placed the hotfixes

For Windows 2008 R2 

1) Download Microsoft filter pack

2) Download the following batch files, unzip and run from the directory where you placed the Microsoft Filter pack file .

If you see messages during install that Servermanager is depriciated ... just ignore it.  

OPTIONAL: if you want you can burn the updates and batch files to a CD or make an .ISO image and use it for additional installations. Have in mind that you cannot distribute such media as Microsoft does not allow their software to be distributed without their permission. That's actually the reason why I had to put links here in the article instead of supplying you with an nice .ISO image that has it all :(