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Server 2003 hangs after updates.

Last night I did some Dell server updates, hard drive firmware as well the PERC adapter firmware as well bios updates. After the updates the Windows 2003 Server hangs at splash screen, when booting via safe mode it is stuck on the acpitabl.dat file.

I wanted to ask for your opinion, I am going to try to do installation repair but if that fails I was thinking maybe I can virtualized the server, is there a utility that will take the server as is and convert it to a VCD or what ever virtual file extension vmware is using?

The server has the OS on Raid 1 and the data on Raid 5 therefore my data should be safe but the entire active directory is in jeopardy as I do not think that I have a good backup.

Any opinions?

charlestasse

sounds like you have a SCSI adapter for a Tape Backup, if you remove it, the server may post fine

SysExpert

If you can ghost it ( Ghost or Acronis ) , both of these formats can be imported by most modern VMs, SO you might look into that option.

I hope this helps !

Randy_Bojangles

You can P2V the server using the VMware converter which you can do as a cold clone (using a boot CD that it makes for you)

This will get round the server not booting so you can virtualise it

mildogz

Try this

I was able to find this solution on this site.
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=237233

1) Boot Windows 2003 in safe mode.
2) Go to the "Device Manager" -> "System devices".
3) Uninstall the "Intel System Management BIOS Driver"
4) Reboot Windows in normal mode.
5) Windows will use the "Microsoft System Management BIOS Driver" instead of the Intel one.

Good luck and let me know if it works.

- Mil

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tiras gans

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tiras gans

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Stated in the last post.