Cancel Windows 2003 install

zAbbo

Need Help,

Company i do some nixers for, accidently began the windows 2003 install phase

Server was already setup working etc.

It had the boot disk in the drive, and someone accidently clicked the 'Install Windows 2003' link.

Need to cancel this install and return to normal.

Each time i boot, it begins the install phase, tried editing boot.ini(it looks fine)

Tried deleting boot.ini, as well as fixboot and fixmbr and rebuilt the boot.ini from inside Windows Recovery

Any ideas what i need to delete to stop it trying to install

seamus

Ouch.

It depends on how far along it got. If it went and formatted the drive, you could be screwed.

Seeing as the server is effectively now out of action, what's the feasibility of recovering all the data from the machine, and letting the reinstall go through?

zAbbo

The setup is intact, i can go in and view which services are enabled/disabled.(through recovery console)

So in that respect, the full install is there, there must be a boot option set to run the installer.

I've verified the data is there.

I'd rather try and just cancel this reinstall, without trying to go ahead with it.

Im looking for either some kinda boot parameters to disable it going into setup mode

seamus

bazH wrote:

The setup is intact, i can go in and view which services are enabled/disabled.(through recovery console)

So in that respect, the full install is there, there must be a boot option set to run the installer.

I've verified the data is there.

I'd rather try and just cancel this reinstall, without trying to go ahead with it.

Im looking for either some kinda boot parameters to disable it going into setup mode

Yeah a recovery sounds like the better option. Not sure how you'd go about it, sorry.

hefty_langer

check if any W2K3 install scripts are trying to be run from
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
or RunOnce

zAbbo

Well i've left there office now.

is it possible to edit the registry from the remote console?

I've handed it over to some tech specialists, as i don't fully understand there setup(involves some high level specifi software)

I fear there is no way to get out of the install cycle, which appears to be mid process.

Will post more if theres a feasible fix for this.

My solution was:

Remove hdd, insert new one, reinstall windows, setup AD, Setup Software

Insert first HDD, restore files/info if possible

Don't like working with no backups.

Someone's going to make some money with thius little diaster recovery job.

Capt'n Midnight

reg.exe can unload reg keys - not sure if available in command console.

do you get an option for last known good or does that also take you into setup ?

zAbbo

Last known good also does the same

Im thinking theres the relevant setup files already copied into the systemroot

Will have some fun with it tomorrow.

Very little can be run from the recovery console.

Tbh its not my baby to play with, there is some super critical info on this, and no backups