Server 2003 Re-Booted with full C Drive - Help!

[sukh]

replica server, A domain controller? Have you got another drive in the server?

[Arthur]

Here's another option... It is similar to the Ubuntu tutorial on the previous page but almost everything is automated.

1. Download Trinity Rescue Kit v3.4 build 367 from here and burn it to a CD or DVD.
   
   
2. Boot the server from the TRK disc and select option 12 (fileshare all drives as guest...).
   
   
   
   
3. Keep an eye on the screen as the text scrolls past and look for the IP address which gets assigned to the server via DHCP.
   
   
   
   
4. When the easy menu appears, go to another computer on your network, click Run on the Start Menu and enter the IP address from the previous step but prefix it with a double-backslash i.e. \\192.168.0.12
   
   
   
   
5. After you click the OK button, Windows Explorer will open showing you every drive on your server. The C:\ drive should be named hda1 or sda1, D:\ will be hdb1 or sdb1, and so on.
   
   
   
   
6. Double-click hda1 or sda1 and look for things you can safely delete or move to another drive. A good place to start would be the contents of the various Temp folders: \Temp, \Windows\Temp, \Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp. The $NtUninstallKB folders in the Windows folder could also be moved elsewhere since they can easily take up several GBs of disk space. N.B. Do not touch the $hf_mig$ and $NtServicePackUninstall folders though.
   
   
   
   
7. When you have finished, go back to the server, select the option to "Reboot without ejecting CD" and then remove the disc when you see the POST screen re-appear.

[somabc]

If you do that then anyone on the network can connect to the share and delete files!

[Arthur]

The whole process doesn't take long (10-20 minutes at most). John just needs to delete enough files to enable the server to boot again. This could be done before everyone gets in for example. Alternatively, he could assign it a static IP on a different subnet or use a laptop + crossover cable.

On our CC3 network no one has access to My Network Places, the address bar in Windows Explorer or the Run box so in theory they shouldn't be able to find the share. I imagine John's network is fairly similar?

[johnj1710]

Thanks for the warning and concern SOMABC, but it's ok as no one is in my school at the moment..... All away on hols except for me and the cleaner. I control the cameras as well and can see everything from my desk so even if someone does come in, I would know.... Thanks also to Arthur (as well as every one else who has helped here) as this worked a treat. Actioned above and did the housekeeping which gave me 640mb on the c: drive. Rebooted the server and it came up stable. Further checking on the c drives of both servers revealed that Server one had a page file on the D drive but somebody had left Server 2's page file on the c drive. I moved it after extending another drive and rebooted the server again. Now have 2.6gb free on the c drive of Server 2 and 2.4gb free on the c drive of server 1. Emergency over now and thanks again to all of you.... Also now have a Ubuntu Live cd to try out when the time comes.... Thank goodness for the internet, this site and all of you......

[TechSupp]

. I moved it after extending another drive and rebooted the server again. Now have 2.6gb free on the c drive of Server 2 and 2.4gb free on the c drive of server 1. ...

Well done, crisis over, just out of interest what software did you use to extend the drive. Got a server with similar size drive (already cleaned it up and moved the spool file and swap file and still only around 1Gb free). Got a new server in place so not critical, it just manages the printers and intend moving them eventually.

[sparkeh]

Oh and free up a bit more space, moving the $ntuninstall folders and servicepackfiles is a good idea too.