cricketman
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URGENT! SBS 2003 issues - NO ADMIN ACCESS!
SBS 2003 server, R2 I believe, last week the HDD got completely full - 0 bytes available space (Symantec Enterprise Protection old virus def files).
When trying to fix that problem, it would not accept my normal Admin login - said it "could not load user profile" I think? I finally got in, but it said it was creating a new profile (or something to that effect), and it did look like a new user desktop - some of my icons were gone.
I also now see two user folders with my name - one just "Clay" which I think is my original one, and one "Clay.GCF.Local.000" which I suspect is the new one that got created?
I was able to delete the Symantec files & now have about 10g free space on the C drive.
Other users (workstations) have had no problems running their apps and accessing server data (which is on D drive, not C), but yesterday on MY workstation I noticed the domain tree under Network in Win Explorer was missing - it just wasn't there. Thinking it was something awry on my workstation, I removed myself from the domain & joined a workgroup in the hopes that subsequently rejoining the domain would resolve the issue.
It didn't - now I can't rejoin the domain at all - says my credentials are not recognized.
That's when I went to the server, and cannot login with either of the two Admin accounts I had (Clay and Administrator) - both just say "System cannot log you on"... credentials not recognized.
I can logon with a non-admin user I have called Manager, but of course I can't get to any management settings.
May or may not be related, but same time these issues appeared, the logon dialog box looks weird - name, password, and domain input fields are a darker color, can't read their contents unless select whatever is in them with the mouse. Strange.
I've done a restart of course - and also a complete shutdown - no change.
I have limited system backups, but I do have some. Three days worth made with the internal backup utility, not sure if that's gonna get me back far enough (before the disk full issue) - I don't think it will.
(If it sounds like I'm a little scattered here.... my first grandchild was born Saturday night... the last few days have been a whirlwind and I haven't had much sleep!).
When I loaded the backups yesterday to see what I had, I saw the ones from last 3 days and also some much older ones - about a year old - that are not in the folder I have backups aimed at now, not sure where they are on the disk but if the b/u utility sees them they should be there somewhere, right?
Haven't tried restoring the System State from one yet, that was my thought but want help from you guys first.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a "real tech guy" - no formal training, just many long nights sitting in front of a screen and throwing darts, but I am pretty decent at it, basically have been my own IT guy for the last 15 years, so I'm quite comfortable "under the hood", but not a true "expert".
Any and all thoughts appreciated - PLEASE HELP!!!!
cricketman
When trying to fix that problem, it would not accept my normal Admin login - said it "could not load user profile" I think? I finally got in, but it said it was creating a new profile (or something to that effect), and it did look like a new user desktop - some of my icons were gone.
I also now see two user folders with my name - one just "Clay" which I think is my original one, and one "Clay.GCF.Local.000" which I suspect is the new one that got created?
I was able to delete the Symantec files & now have about 10g free space on the C drive.
Other users (workstations) have had no problems running their apps and accessing server data (which is on D drive, not C), but yesterday on MY workstation I noticed the domain tree under Network in Win Explorer was missing - it just wasn't there. Thinking it was something awry on my workstation, I removed myself from the domain & joined a workgroup in the hopes that subsequently rejoining the domain would resolve the issue.
It didn't - now I can't rejoin the domain at all - says my credentials are not recognized.
That's when I went to the server, and cannot login with either of the two Admin accounts I had (Clay and Administrator) - both just say "System cannot log you on"... credentials not recognized.
I can logon with a non-admin user I have called Manager, but of course I can't get to any management settings.
May or may not be related, but same time these issues appeared, the logon dialog box looks weird - name, password, and domain input fields are a darker color, can't read their contents unless select whatever is in them with the mouse. Strange.
I've done a restart of course - and also a complete shutdown - no change.
I have limited system backups, but I do have some. Three days worth made with the internal backup utility, not sure if that's gonna get me back far enough (before the disk full issue) - I don't think it will.
(If it sounds like I'm a little scattered here.... my first grandchild was born Saturday night... the last few days have been a whirlwind and I haven't had much sleep!).
When I loaded the backups yesterday to see what I had, I saw the ones from last 3 days and also some much older ones - about a year old - that are not in the folder I have backups aimed at now, not sure where they are on the disk but if the b/u utility sees them they should be there somewhere, right?
Haven't tried restoring the System State from one yet, that was my thought but want help from you guys first.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a "real tech guy" - no formal training, just many long nights sitting in front of a screen and throwing darts, but I am pretty decent at it, basically have been my own IT guy for the last 15 years, so I'm quite comfortable "under the hood", but not a true "expert".
Any and all thoughts appreciated - PLEASE HELP!!!!
cricketman
SOLUTION
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Hello cricketman,
I monitor this post and wish you good luck!
Try to remember local administrator (Directory Services Restore Mode password) and restore AD:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258062/en-us
Regards,
Jarda
I monitor this post and wish you good luck!
Try to remember local administrator (Directory Services Restore Mode password) and restore AD:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258062/en-us
Regards,
Jarda
ASKER
Not having any luck.
Cannot get the server to boot from the SBS 2003 CD. I have TWO CD's... one is a Microsoft, the other a Dell, neither will boot. Tried w/o initiating the boot menu with F11 and it just flies right by and boots from the HDD, also tried initiating the boot menu with F11 and then choosing CD drive from the list to boot from, but system still boots from the HDD.
Went into SETUP, the CD drive is listed first in boot order (HDD 2nd, Dell RD 1000 removable drive 3rd).
In researching today, came across references to Powersuite Utilities by SPOTMAU, purchased it, DID get machine to boot from that CD. Ran their password reset utility (which is supposed to work for all versions of Windows 2003)... it APPEARED to work (said it completed successfully), restarted machine, no dice - still cannot login as Administrator.
Perhaps important?... the SPOTMAU utility only saw 2 users to let me pick from to reset password - Administrator, and Guest. Did not show the user "Manager" that IS still active - I CAN login as Manager, but that user doesn't have admin privileges so I can't do much.
Is there a way to give Manager admin privs so I can use it to create another new user for myself?
Will have to let my office gals do their work tomorrow, so won't be able to try more things till tomorrow night.
Any other ideas?
Any thoughts on why it won't boot from either SBS 2003 CD?
cricketman
Cannot get the server to boot from the SBS 2003 CD. I have TWO CD's... one is a Microsoft, the other a Dell, neither will boot. Tried w/o initiating the boot menu with F11 and it just flies right by and boots from the HDD, also tried initiating the boot menu with F11 and then choosing CD drive from the list to boot from, but system still boots from the HDD.
Went into SETUP, the CD drive is listed first in boot order (HDD 2nd, Dell RD 1000 removable drive 3rd).
In researching today, came across references to Powersuite Utilities by SPOTMAU, purchased it, DID get machine to boot from that CD. Ran their password reset utility (which is supposed to work for all versions of Windows 2003)... it APPEARED to work (said it completed successfully), restarted machine, no dice - still cannot login as Administrator.
Perhaps important?... the SPOTMAU utility only saw 2 users to let me pick from to reset password - Administrator, and Guest. Did not show the user "Manager" that IS still active - I CAN login as Manager, but that user doesn't have admin privileges so I can't do much.
Is there a way to give Manager admin privs so I can use it to create another new user for myself?
Will have to let my office gals do their work tomorrow, so won't be able to try more things till tomorrow night.
Any other ideas?
Any thoughts on why it won't boot from either SBS 2003 CD?
cricketman
Do not boot from the 2003 CD - it probably doesn't have drivers installed to see the drive. Boot from a Windows 7 or Vista or Windows 8 or 2008 DVD. Or create a flash drive. I don't know where you got your 2003 CD... or how it might have been burned.
Before OS boots, press F8 and choose active directory restore mode. You will be asked for local administrator password. Than you will be able to restore AD.
Jarda
Jarda
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SOLUTION
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Epp's method will work on the domain controller if you can boot to the CD successfully to gain recovery console access. The other bootable password reset utilities will not.
The Petri method is a little more lengthy. It is how I have done it in the past, but I will certainly be using Epp's method from now on (Brilliant).
The dell badged disc should say "disc 1" or Small Business Server 2003 or something.... and should be your bootable install media. Blow out your CD tray with compressed air if you havent read a lot of discs in it, the optical pickup may be dirty.
HTH
Gary
The Petri method is a little more lengthy. It is how I have done it in the past, but I will certainly be using Epp's method from now on (Brilliant).
The dell badged disc should say "disc 1" or Small Business Server 2003 or something.... and should be your bootable install media. Blow out your CD tray with compressed air if you havent read a lot of discs in it, the optical pickup may be dirty.
HTH
Gary
BTW: You may need to create a driver disk for your storage controller if the SBS 2003 media boots but doesnt see your installation. F6 at the load screen and load the driver from a <cough> diskette. Assuming your server has one of those...they are becoming increasingly rare.
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ASKER
Comment explains situation
ASKER
WOW.... kind of scary that it could be that easy, and you're right - it highlights why physical security is important!
I will try this tonight (I'm going to stay out & let my office gals do their regular work today).
Meanwhile... any other ideas from anyone else are appreciated, would like to have multiple tools in my bag when I tackle this tonight!!
Thanks....
cricketman