SSRS 2012 - uninitialized server

I have been experiencing random connection/handshake problems w/ a hyper server VM running SQL and SSRS

So the network guys suggested building a new VM and trying it there. (Have you tried rebooting? )

I asked that they rename the old server (--> SQLBKUP) and name the new server to the current name (--> SQL) so all my connection strings will continue to work.

Regardless the wisdom of that approach, that is all now done.

All of our applications work. (and the weird handshake issue is gone,joy) I have reinstalled SSRS and I thought I was home free.

We backed up and restored the ReportServer and ReportServerTemp databases to the new server.

If i try to point to these databases , I keep getting this error

The report server installation is not initialized.     (rsReportServerNotActivated) Get Online Help 

Any all information I can find about this for 2012 says that the initialization happens automatically when you configure a database.

I tried creating a new database, and presto, everything works fine. I reconfigured SSRS to point at the old database and I again get the rsReportServerNotActivated error.

I also 'powered down' SQLBKUP in case it was causing some confusion, I cant imagine what that might be, but why not... This did NOT correct the problem.

Any ideas on why the databases that were working on 1 server wont work on the new one?

Searching the interweb for this issue I find two results for 2012 SSRS (many hits for 2005 issues/resolutions )

this article details how the RSExec role should be configured, I have verified that is all correct. http://ift.tt/1MJLPZY

this article details the mechanics of various ways to move a database. The back up and restore operations went off w/o a hitch. http://ift.tt/1Ih5agW

neither article mentions cleaning up any server names, ip addresses, etc. that might be in a config table. Inspecting the tables in SSMS, I dont see any tables that look like they might need such attention.

I can always recreate the environment, I am aout to that point, at least I will know what I have in front of me. If anyone has any suggestions, i would appreciate it, Im sure I will be up for a while... :-)

tyia greg