Server 2016 Blank Screen

[andyt57]

I was called in to one of my schools on Friday (my day off) as the wi-fi wasn't working.

 

I actually found that there is a problem with the server, which is running Microsoft Server 2016. One of the discs in the Raid array has failed, but there are 4 other discs so it is still working (Perc 310).

 

However when I try to log in to the server I get a black screen, just showing the mouse pointer.

 

On another machine connected to the wired network I can log in and connect to all the shared drives. I am getting a network IP address and can browse the Internet. So the server is running, and Activ Directory, DHCP and DNS are all running.

 

I have tried logging in to the server in Safe Mode but still get a blank screen.

 

The server has not done updates, and trying to revert to previous setup in Safe Mode made no difference.

 

Does anyone have any idea how I can recover the situation? Or do I just bite the bullet, rebuild the RAID array and reinstall Server 2016 and rebuild the server?

 

Andrew

[Steve21]

How recently updated is the server? There are loads of old bugs with 2016 that give these kind of things, but most of these should have been fixed with updates

 

Could try a few of the older ones to see if any help (Obviously won't fix it long term, but quick checks to see if any of the old bugs are still present) -

Kill audiodg.exe in TaskMgr

Restart Terminal (TermService) service

Stop AppReadiness Service

 

Steve

[andyt57]

How recently updated is the server? There are loads of old bugs with 2016 that give these kind of things, but most of these should have been fixed with updates

 

Could try a few of the older ones to see if any help (Obviously won't fix it long term, but quick checks to see if any of the old bugs are still present) -

Kill audiodg.exe in TaskMgr

Restart Terminal (TermService) service

Stop AppReadiness Service

 

Steve

Thanks I'll try that.

 

The server is fully updated; I meant that it had not installed any new updates prior to this.

 

Andrew

[JonThompson]

Can you get into Task Manager?

 

File > New Task > explorer.exe

 

Had that one before where explorer was hanging and not starting up, once launched via TM it worked fine.

 

I would recommend an upgrade to Server 2019 as and when, it’s much better and doesn’t have the stupidly long windows update bug!

[Cache]

I've had this before, also caused by a failed disk in the array. Thankfully replacing the disk and letting the array rebuild sorted the issue. Had similar somewhere else which was temporarily resolved just by removing the failed disk.

[andyt57]

Can you get into Task Manager?

 

File > New Task > explorer.exe

 

Had that one before where explorer was hanging and not starting up, once launched via TM it worked fine.

 

I would recommend an upgrade to Server 2019 as and when, it’s much better and doesn’t have the stupidly long windows update bug!

 

I did an in-place upgrade from Server 2016 to Server 2019 and that did the trick. I also replaced that failed hard drive and left the array rebuilding.

 

Unfortunately the school had a visit from Ofsted this week so I made myself scarce.

 

Andrew