windows server 2025
Question asked by Sabatino - 10/6/2026 at 10:13 AM
Answered
Windows Server 2025 installation times are excruciating.
Is there a solution in upcoming versions?
Sabatino Traini
      Chief Information Officer
Genial s.r.l. 
Martinsicuro - Italy

Derek Curtis Replied
Employee Post
We're working on some things internally as well as continuing to work with Advanced Installer. They're aware of the issues and we're doing our best to hammer them for a solution. 
Derek Curtis
CCO
SmarterTools Inc.
Tim Uzzanti Replied
Employee Post

We recently put a little more pressure on our Advanced Installer vendor.  If this does not work, we will be moving away from them.

Tim Uzzanti
CEO
SmarterTools Inc.
Sabatino Replied
Let's hope they resolve it soon.
I'm migrating from 2019 to 2025 and am still in the testing phase.
Today, while testing on the new 2025 server, I simulated an update.
I stopped SM, uninstalled, rebooted, and reinstalled.
It took over 45 minutes... embarrassing.
Sabatino Traini
      Chief Information Officer
Genial s.r.l. 
Martinsicuro - Italy

terry fairbrother Replied
If there any reason to stay on Windows Server? I moved away from Windows to Linux for SM since that's their preferred OS. I run Linux under Hyper-V and saved a fortune on CALs
There are 2 main reason that can make you use Windows:
- not everyone like Linux and someone prefers Windows ...
- In Windows you can use Defender integration

Nothing else...
Gabriele Maoret - Head of SysAdmins and CISO at SERSIS
Currently manages 7 SmarterMail installations (1 in the cloud for SERSIS which provides services to a few hundred third-party email domains + 6 on-premise for customers who prefer to have their mail server in-house)
Tim Uzzanti Replied
Employee Post

Some good news! We received an updated package from Advanced Installer, and we’re now seeing installation times of about 10 minutes on Windows Server 2025. Other versions of Windows Server are taking just a couple of minutes. We’re seeing these results in both our testing environments and on our production servers.

We’ll have a new version of SmarterMail released this week with only a handful release notes, but it will include the updated installer.

Give it a try and let us know your feedback!
Tim Uzzanti
CEO
SmarterTools Inc.
Tim Uzzanti Replied
Employee Post
Another update on this: it seems that upgrades after this build should only take a couple of minutes. For customers going from any previous build, it could take 10 minutes. On the next upgrade, it should just take a couple of minutes.
Tim Uzzanti
CEO
SmarterTools Inc.
Chris Danks Replied
I see 

Build 9777 (Oct 8, 2026)

    • Efficiency: Improved Windows installer delays on install/upgrade for Windows 2025.

I just updated.  Now the below screen is only shown for around 3-5 minutes

however, its usually about 15-20 minutes so it was an improvement vs previous installer!!

Thanks Smartertools
Derek Curtis Replied
Employee Post
Thanks for the feedback. We're still working on it, which is why the release note says it's an "Efficiency" change versus a "Fixed" change. We're planning to get more from Advanced Installer and from our own optimizations to actually mark this issue as "Fixed". 
Derek Curtis
CCO
SmarterTools Inc.
Chris Danks Replied
overall its night and day difference Derek and I'm very happy with the improvements.
Tim Uzzanti Replied
Employee Post Marked As Answer

We’re glad our customers are having the same experience we did in our environments.  It took Advanced Installer a while to fix it, but they finally resolved it.  

Tim Uzzanti
CEO
SmarterTools Inc.
Howell Dell Replied
I think the future is bright for Linux. I am switching more and more applications to Linux. I know its a shock to move away from an OS that you have invested for years. I was Certified on Windows in 2000 BTW! I still have the places on the wall.

I am planning on moving my SmarterMail, for my customers, over to Linux instead of 2025. I've been slowly learning Linux and after a while its GOOD! Plus you can add as many CPUs and RAM as you want or need without the licensing fee rigmarole
.
Just my take...
echoDreamz Replied
@Howell Dell what good does your post do in regards to the topic? It's a thread about installer issues on Server 2025, nothing about Linux... hijacking Windows posts to talk about Linux doesnt do anything for anyone.
Howell Dell Replied
@echoDremaz

...hijacking Windows posts to talk about Linux doesn't do anything for anyone.
Folks need to start thinking about the sunset of Exchange, EWS and Active Sync as Microsoft is off to a new direction that does not include these legacy solutions. its great that the installer works in a timely manor. Is this the best place to spend resources? Just saying...

When my VoIP Vendor announced Linux Support I fell off my chair. Now I moving everything to Linux as fast as my fingers can carry me.

365 is the future for M$ which Outlook New ONLY supports. It know its shocking for those still in the camp but I was in that camp not that long ago. Collectively, we need to have a viable future solution.
Brian Replied
Viable and well integrated and working alternative.

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