Windows Server 2003 SP1 problem

Stky10

Have Windows Server 2003, installed SP1 released today, and
rebooted. Its now coming up with a BSOD and giving a registry
fault, and cyclic rebooting.

I've tried booting in safe mode but the same thing happens.
I've tried booting off the CD and repairing it from the recovery
console, but because it has SCSI disks it doesn't see the disks
and so cannot do anything.

Anybody any tips for the best way to restore things??
I've got backups, but thats the last gasp refuge of the
desperate.

Capt'n Midnight

Ouch,

Bit late now but ...
\i386\winnt32 /cmdcons puts recovery console files on the hard drive so you can choose it as a boot option - not sure if it incorporates the SCSI drivers from the windows folder.

When the CD boots are you pressing F6 to get prompt for SCSI drivers ?
http://www.petri.co.il/install_windows_2000_xp_2003_recovery_console.htm

http://computerperformance.co.uk/w2k3/disaster_recovery_boot.htm

Stky10

I've rung Dell and they've sent me the updated SCSI drivers. Of course
the server has no floppy drive, but I'm getting a USB one (hmmm wonder
if usb disk would do) and we'll see how we get on from there.

Stky10

damn windows doesn't recognises either. Think I should have stayed in
bed....

Stky10

hmmm, finally got to the recovery console.

Dont see much there though to fix a buggered registry

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;326215

I think I'm in for a long night....

theshadow

No expert on Server 2003 or close it is to XP but this helped me a few times with registry problems with XP Pro/Home
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545/

Capt'n Midnight

Stky10 wrote:

a buggered registry

yeah you have to treat the registry as a copy protection mechanism - if it gets damaged it's usually game over unless you happen to have a spare one lying around

Worth using NTbackup to backup the windows and root folders and system state every once in a while to a BKF file, you could then use a parallel install to restore it later on, a lot less painfull than reinstall TBU software and patch it.

Stky10

I'll try this later, it might work...

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307545

Cyberman_stuii

Are you aware that a Windows Protection Error is not the same as a General Protection Error? When there's a problem, the Windows Protection Error message is most often seen when you start or shut down Windows. "While initializing device _Some-device-name_ Windows Protection Error". These errors can occur when Windows loads or unloads a virtual device driver, also known as a VXD. Did you already know this, do you know how to fix one?

I do not want to mislead you and tell you exactly how to fix one. I am going to tell you what I have gone through fixing one recently, in the hopes it will help you the next time you need to track one down.

From the Microsoft site:
Windows Protection error messages can occur under any of the following conditions:

Capt'n Midnight

Cyberman_stuii wrote:

Are you aware that a Windows Protection Error is not the same as a General Protection Error? .... These errors can occur when Windows loads or unloads a virtual device driver, also known as a VXD. Did you already know this, do you know how to fix one?

VXD in 2003 ?
Maybe the BSOD was caused by a UAE instead of a GPF

How to move windows to different HW - partial restores might be of some use
support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;249694
support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb;nl;314070

Stky10

I ended up spending most of the night in work, wiping it and restoring
most of the data from the previous nights backup. Manually recreated
the domain again just to be on the safe side as I don't trust windows
drivers and configuration file restores. All went reasonably well so
only about three hours work was lost, and about another 3-4 hours
where people didnt have access.

Learnt some valuable lessons from it though.