RSAT missing DNS server tool in Windows 11/10

After you download and install the RSAT (Remote Server Administration Tool) client by double-clicking the package, you might notice the DNS server tools are missing. In this post, we will provide alternative steps to install the RSATClient so that all tools are installed correctly.

RSAT missing DNS server tools in Windows 11/10

To work around this issue, do the following:

Make sure that the update KB2693643 is not already installed on the computer. If the update is installed, uninstall the update.

Create a new directory – for example, temp.

For x64 versions of Windows, create files unattend_x64.xml and installx64.bat as follows:

unattend_x64.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> 
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:setup" description="Auto unattend" author="pkgmgr.exe"> 
<servicing> 
<package action="stage"> 
<assemblyIdentity buildType="release" language="neutral" name="Microsoft-Windows-RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Client-Package-TopLevel" processorArchitecture="amd64" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" version="10.0.16299.2"/> 
<source location="." permanence="temporary"/> 
</package> 
</servicing> 
</unattend>

installx64.bat

@echo off
md ex 
expand -f:* WindowsTH-RSAT_WS_1709-x64.msu ex\
cd ex
md ex
copy ..\unattend_x64.xml ex\
expand -f:* WindowsTH-KB2693643-x64.cab ex\
cd ex
dism /online /apply-unattend="unattend_x64.xml"
cd ..\
dism /online /Add-Package /PackagePath:"WindowsTH-KB2693643-x64.cab"
cd ..\
rmdir ex /s /q

For x86 versions of Windows, create files unattend_x86.xml and installx86.bat as follows:

unattend_x86.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> 
<unattend xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:setup" description="Auto unattend" author="pkgmgr.exe"> 
<servicing> 
<package action="stage"> 
<assemblyIdentity buildType="release" language="neutral" name="Microsoft-Windows-RemoteServerAdministrationTools-Client-Package-TopLevel" processorArchitecture="x86" publicKeyToken="31bf3856ad364e35" version="10.0.16299.2"/> 
<source location="." permanence="temporary"/> 
</package> 
</servicing> 
</unattend>

installx86.bat

@echo off
md ex 
expand -f:* WindowsTH-RSAT_WS_1709-x86.msu ex\
cd ex
md ex
copy ..\unattend_x86.xml ex\
expand -f:* WindowsTH-KB2693643-x86.cab ex\
cd ex
dism /online /apply-unattend="unattend_x86.xml"
cd ..\
dism /online /Add-Package /PackagePath:"WindowsTH-KB2693643-x86.cab"
cd ..\
rmdir ex /s /q

Now, download the RSATClient msu package for x64 versions of Windows or  x86 versions of Windows, and save the package in the new directory.

Launch File Explorer, browse to the temp directory and press ALT + D key combo, type CMD and hit Enter – to start a command prompt with administrative permissions

Run installx64.bat or installx86.bat for your version of Windows 10 accordingly.

After installation, you can clear the contents of the temp directory. No restart is required unless you are prompted.

And that’s it, folks!