2003 server hotfixes

After applying the latest 2 windows server 2003 patches/hotfixes, I'm unable
to get back into windows. Upon boot, the server "hangs" on "Applying
Computer Settings". It times out after about an hour and brings you to the
"Ctrl+Alt+Del" sign. Wehn ypu hit the ctrl+Alt+Del it brings you to the
"shutdown windows" window and not the login window as it's supposed to. The
same thing happens when trying to boot into safe mode. So as of right now,
the server is useless. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Dan....

Dan S. wrote:
> After applying the latest 2 windows server 2003 patches/hotfixes, I'm
> unable to get back into windows. Upon boot, the server "hangs" on
> "Applying Computer Settings". It times out after about an hour and
> brings you to the "Ctrl+Alt+Del" sign. Wehn ypu hit the ctrl+Alt+Del
> it brings you to the "shutdown windows" window and not the login
> window as it's supposed to. The same thing happens when trying to
> boot into safe mode. So as of right now, the server is useless. Any
> ideas are greatly appreciated.
> Thanks.
> Dan....

Is this a domain controller?
Can you check the event logs remotely?
Do you remember which patches you applied?

1) yes this is a standalone Domain Controller.
2) What are the event logs file name. If i knew tha names, I may be able to
boot from the server CD, get into recovery console and then view the contents
of the HDD.
3) I'm not sure exactly what patches they were but i know that there was
only two, and they were the most recent/newest patchs microsoft put out.
I've been looking on the net for the list but have been unable to find the
list of patches on the internet. This server also has Exchange 2003 on it,
so the patches may have been for that too. If they were Exchange patches, i
don't see how that would bomb me from starting windows.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> Dan S. wrote:
> > After applying the latest 2 windows server 2003 patches/hotfixes, I'm
> > unable to get back into windows. Upon boot, the server "hangs" on
> > "Applying Computer Settings". It times out after about an hour and
> > brings you to the "Ctrl+Alt+Del" sign. Wehn ypu hit the ctrl+Alt+Del
> > it brings you to the "shutdown windows" window and not the login
> > window as it's supposed to. The same thing happens when trying to
> > boot into safe mode. So as of right now, the server is useless. Any
> > ideas are greatly appreciated.
> > Thanks.
> > Dan....
>
> Is this a domain controller?
> Can you check the event logs remotely?
> Do you remember which patches you applied?
>
>
>

Dan S. wrote:
> 1) yes this is a standalone Domain Controller.

Is it your only domain controller?

> 2) What are the event logs file name. If i knew tha names, I may be
> able to boot from the server CD, get into recovery console and then
> view the contents of the HDD.

I didn't mean that exactly - when the machine boots up, can you a) ping it
by IP b) ping it by name c) open eventvwr on a local computer while logged
in with sufficient admin rights on the domain and select the server's event
logs?

> 3) I'm not sure exactly what patches they were but i know that there
> was only two, and they were the most recent/newest patchs microsoft
> put out. I've been looking on the net for the list but have been
> unable to find the list of patches on the internet. This server also
> has Exchange 2003 on it, so the patches may have been for that too.
> If they were Exchange patches, i don't see how that would bomb me
> from starting windows.

Windows Update doesn't apply Exchange patches.

Another possibility (long stretch here) - remove the NIC from the server or
if it's onboard disable it in the BIOS and see if you can boot up at all, in
normal or safe mode.
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> Dan S. wrote:
>>> After applying the latest 2 windows server 2003 patches/hotfixes,
>>> I'm unable to get back into windows. Upon boot, the server "hangs"
>>> on "Applying Computer Settings". It times out after about an hour
>>> and brings you to the "Ctrl+Alt+Del" sign. Wehn ypu hit the
>>> ctrl+Alt+Del it brings you to the "shutdown windows" window and not
>>> the login window as it's supposed to. The same thing happens when
>>> trying to boot into safe mode. So as of right now, the server is
>>> useless. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
>>> Thanks.
>>> Dan....
>>
>> Is this a domain controller?
>> Can you check the event logs remotely?
>> Do you remember which patches you applied?

1)yes this is a standalone system. Only 1 server in the environment.
2)I can ping the server in it's hang state but can't join the domain/logon.
3) I removed the NIC, TapeBackup, CD and Floppy and rebooted = no difference.
4) I ran chkdsk /r = no difference
5) I performed a Windows system repair = no difference

Are there any utilities i can run from the command prompt?

Dan...




"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:

> Dan S. wrote:
> > 1) yes this is a standalone Domain Controller.
>
> Is it your only domain controller?
>
> > 2) What are the event logs file name. If i knew tha names, I may be
> > able to boot from the server CD, get into recovery console and then
> > view the contents of the HDD.
>
> I didn't mean that exactly - when the machine boots up, can you a) ping it
> by IP b) ping it by name c) open eventvwr on a local computer while logged
> in with sufficient admin rights on the domain and select the server's event
> logs?
>
> > 3) I'm not sure exactly what patches they were but i know that there
> > was only two, and they were the most recent/newest patchs microsoft
> > put out. I've been looking on the net for the list but have been
> > unable to find the list of patches on the internet. This server also
> > has Exchange 2003 on it, so the patches may have been for that too.
> > If they were Exchange patches, i don't see how that would bomb me
> > from starting windows.
>
> Windows Update doesn't apply Exchange patches.
>
> Another possibility (long stretch here) - remove the NIC from the server or
> if it's onboard disable it in the BIOS and see if you can boot up at all, in
> normal or safe mode.
> >
> > "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
> >
> >> Dan S. wrote:
> >>> After applying the latest 2 windows server 2003 patches/hotfixes,
> >>> I'm unable to get back into windows. Upon boot, the server "hangs"
> >>> on "Applying Computer Settings". It times out after about an hour
> >>> and brings you to the "Ctrl+Alt+Del" sign. Wehn ypu hit the
> >>> ctrl+Alt+Del it brings you to the "shutdown windows" window and not
> >>> the login window as it's supposed to. The same thing happens when
> >>> trying to boot into safe mode. So as of right now, the server is
> >>> useless. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
> >>> Thanks.
> >>> Dan....
> >>
> >> Is this a domain controller?
> >> Can you check the event logs remotely?
> >> Do you remember which patches you applied?
>
>
>

Dan S. wrote:
> 1)yes this is a standalone system. Only 1 server in the environment.
> 2)I can ping the server in it's hang state but can't join the
> domain/logon. 3) I removed the NIC, TapeBackup, CD and Floppy and
> rebooted = no difference. 4) I ran chkdsk /r = no difference

I thought you couldn't boot into the OS *& log in?


> 5) I performed a Windows system repair = no difference
>
> Are there any utilities i can run from the command prompt?
>
> Dan...
>

When you power up the box, and can ping it, see if you can remotely check
the event logs.
>
>
>
> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>
>> Dan S. wrote:
>>> 1) yes this is a standalone Domain Controller.
>>
>> Is it your only domain controller?
>>
>>> 2) What are the event logs file name. If i knew tha names, I may be
>>> able to boot from the server CD, get into recovery console and then
>>> view the contents of the HDD.
>>
>> I didn't mean that exactly - when the machine boots up, can you a)
>> ping it by IP b) ping it by name c) open eventvwr on a local
>> computer while logged in with sufficient admin rights on the domain
>> and select the server's event logs?
>>
>>> 3) I'm not sure exactly what patches they were but i know that there
>>> was only two, and they were the most recent/newest patchs microsoft
>>> put out. I've been looking on the net for the list but have been
>>> unable to find the list of patches on the internet. This server
>>> also has Exchange 2003 on it, so the patches may have been for that
>>> too. If they were Exchange patches, i don't see how that would bomb
>>> me from starting windows.
>>
>> Windows Update doesn't apply Exchange patches.
>>
>> Another possibility (long stretch here) - remove the NIC from the
>> server or if it's onboard disable it in the BIOS and see if you can
>> boot up at all, in normal or safe mode.
>>>
>>> "Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]" wrote:
>>>
>>>> Dan S. wrote:
>>>>> After applying the latest 2 windows server 2003 patches/hotfixes,
>>>>> I'm unable to get back into windows. Upon boot, the server
>>>>> "hangs" on "Applying Computer Settings". It times out after
>>>>> about an hour and brings you to the "Ctrl+Alt+Del" sign. Wehn
>>>>> ypu hit the ctrl+Alt+Del it brings you to the "shutdown windows"
>>>>> window and not the login window as it's supposed to. The same
>>>>> thing happens when trying to boot into safe mode. So as of right
>>>>> now, the server is useless. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.
>>>>> Thanks.
>>>>> Dan....
>>>>
>>>> Is this a domain controller?
>>>> Can you check the event logs remotely?
>>>> Do you remember which patches you applied?