Server 2003 boot issue

[andyk]

Hi

 

We have a server that doesn't want to boot. The server 2003 startup logo appears and then then screen turns black and nothing happens. I've tried booting up in safe mode (it hangs when listing windows files) and restoring to last known good configuration, but nothing works. Any help appreciated.

 

Andy

[kmount]

Do you have a backup to restore from?

 

Any ideas on recent changes to the OS, windows updates etc?

 

Did it fail and cause you to need to power on, or did it just not come back from a reboot?

 

Has the hardware checked out OK?

[andyk]

Thanks. No changes to the OS or windows updates. As far as I can see the hardware is all OK. It just didn't power back from a reboot. Gets as far as the windows logo and then the screen turns black.

[kmount]

I'd try the safe mode route but I'd leave it on that hung screen for a couple of hours to see if it's just grinding slowly through or has actually hang.

 

Have you checked the RAID controller is happy and that there's no issues there?

 

Another option might be booting off of a CD to get to a command prompt and running a chkdsk to make sure the filesystem is happy.

 

I'd be in the background preparing for the worst though in having to restore a backup, or lacking one of those, building a new OS and salvaging data from the disks.

[box_l]

When booting in safe mode, what is the name of the last file to load?

If it acpitabl.dat, google restore update.sys

run chkdsk on the drive too.

 

This might work, I have had this error this morning after some updates.

For me the only solution has been a repair install of 2k3.

 

BoX