Windows SBS 2003 - NTDETECT failed
I have a Dell PowerEdge 2900 server. It was running Windows SBS 2003. When I tried booting the server this afternoon I received the following message:
NTDETECT failed
From my brief search of the web I know this is a serious error. The server does not have an internal floppy drive; I do however have an external usb floppy drive. I am trying to avoid a total system rebuild. Is there a way to recover the necessary system files?
Many thanks in advance!
CecilAdmin
NTDETECT failed
From my brief search of the web I know this is a serious error. The server does not have an internal floppy drive; I do however have an external usb floppy drive. I am trying to avoid a total system rebuild. Is there a way to recover the necessary system files?
Many thanks in advance!
CecilAdmin
ormerodrutter
Has your NTDetect file gone missing? Don't know if that helps, my XP has the same problem before and what I did was to copy that from my original XP CD and put it on c:\drive, and machine boots again.
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Inkevin,
Thanks for your response! Your first suggestion was the closest to the solution. Here is my resolution with assistance from Dell. Read on...
I downloaded the Perc5i drivers from dell to create a floppy disk for use at the SCSI driver prompt (press f6 when booting from the windows cd) prior to running the recovery console.
1. Created Perc5i driver diskette
2. Booted to Windows CD
3. Pressed F6 to install 3rd party drivers
4. Pressed R to enter the recovery console
5. Ran chkdsk with the following switches /p /r
6. Chkdsk recovered/repaired some system files.
7. Remove the floppy and CD
8. Typed Exit and the system rebooted successfully.
Thanks for your response! Your first suggestion was the closest to the solution. Here is my resolution with assistance from Dell. Read on...
I downloaded the Perc5i drivers from dell to create a floppy disk for use at the SCSI driver prompt (press f6 when booting from the windows cd) prior to running the recovery console.
1. Created Perc5i driver diskette
2. Booted to Windows CD
3. Pressed F6 to install 3rd party drivers
4. Pressed R to enter the recovery console
5. Ran chkdsk with the following switches /p /r
6. Chkdsk recovered/repaired some system files.
7. Remove the floppy and CD
8. Typed Exit and the system rebooted successfully.
Nice of you to repost the steps for future usage.
Thanks,
K
Thanks,
K
All,
I just had this issue and in using CecilAdmin response I also had to copy the ntdetect.com file from the i386 file on the cd to the c drive.
I just had this issue and in using CecilAdmin response I also had to copy the ntdetect.com file from the i386 file on the cd to the c drive.