SharePoint (HTTP Error 503)

Normally means that the font-end is up, but the database server is not.

Can you check all the servers in the farm are up and running?

If the servers are OK, restart IIS.

Also check that the Application Pools are all running in IIS.  Which version of IIS are you using?

IIS 7

This article tells you how to recycle the application pool in IIS7.

http://www.dotnetfunda.com/interview/exam3506-how-to-recycle-application-pool-from-the-command-prompt-in-iis7-.aspx

The problem is that the sql server does not work because I changed the password of the login used by the sql server service.

I have tried to update the password for the sql server service in the configuration manager but it is telling me "access denied" even though I am connected with the Administrator account!!!

Please ignore my last question!

I am confused... Can you start again and explain the problem.

I have restarted IIS and recycled the sharepoint server application pool but still get the same problem.

I am not seeing how else I can explain the problem. Do you have a specific question?

What is the site that your trying to connect to? Does every site give this error or just some sites. Try central admin andtry another site ( if that exists)

Then in IIS manager can you have a look at if the application pools for the failing sites are running or not. If not please start the application pools and all should be up and running. Unless the application pool shuts down again. Then the Event logs will give you some more clues.

I was confused about the SQL comment and then you said ignore the question.  So the Sharepoint question is still valid?

If so, please give some detail about the farm you have.  Is this one machine or multiple?  I assume SQL 2010 on Server 2008, but you have posted the question in the C# and .NET area's too, which makes me wonder if that has some relevance to the question?

Was it working before?  Has anything changed recently?

psv1973:  the central administration web site has the same problem. On scriven's advice I have recycled all the application pools which were not running before.

scriven i: I said to ignore the sql server question because I was able to get the server to run. I actually posted the question in the SharePoint area and that's the only area I selected. there might be some misplacement problems. Sorry for the confusion.

The site was working about 2 months ago before I went off sick. When I cam back and tried to connect to the server I was prompted to change the administrator password. I guess that's the only thing that has changed from 2 months ago.

The admin password reset is worth a try, but I think I would just run through the Sharepoint install and configuration again as the quickest way of solving this.

I've tried to change back the password but the password policy (history policy) does not allow me to do that. But I think it is a good point.

Yes, I have started the pools before restarting IIS.

If you do a password reset directly on a domain controller, it will override the password policy and allow you to reset the password...