Server cycles at boot but won't load Windows
Server 2008R2 on PowerEdge T410 server.
Server cycles at boot but won't load Windows. Server is remote so I have only limited technically-capable folks out there. They report that all HDDs (on RAID 5) are in the green. The only boot menu options they have is 1. Windows Startup Recovery and 2. Boot Windows normally. If #2 is selected, the server seems to start loading showing the progress bar and then powers down and reboots to that same menu.
I don't want them to mess around recovery options. Besides, it requires admin login and I am not willing to give up the password.
Also, the front LED on the server reads "ST: CNVSBT1", but I couldn't find the error code anywhere and will be calling Dell about it. But, like I said, the HDDs seem to be all on-line with nothing but green lights next to them.
It looks to me that there's got to be a file corruption when they hard-reset the server over the weekend and damaged some boot files.
I don't mind going there and doing a recovery, but I need some pointers on how to do it. A link to step-by-step will do.
Thanks.
Server cycles at boot but won't load Windows. Server is remote so I have only limited technically-capable folks out there. They report that all HDDs (on RAID 5) are in the green. The only boot menu options they have is 1. Windows Startup Recovery and 2. Boot Windows normally. If #2 is selected, the server seems to start loading showing the progress bar and then powers down and reboots to that same menu.
I don't want them to mess around recovery options. Besides, it requires admin login and I am not willing to give up the password.
Also, the front LED on the server reads "ST: CNVSBT1", but I couldn't find the error code anywhere and will be calling Dell about it. But, like I said, the HDDs seem to be all on-line with nothing but green lights next to them.
It looks to me that there's got to be a file corruption when they hard-reset the server over the weekend and damaged some boot files.
I don't mind going there and doing a recovery, but I need some pointers on how to do it. A link to step-by-step will do.
Thanks.
Also if you are going to client site I sugget to go through the following procedure:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/4162.windows-server-2008-repair-steps-for-no-boot-issues.aspx
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/4162.windows-server-2008-repair-steps-for-no-boot-issues.aspx
ASKER
Thanks for quick response. My user claims that hitting F8 only gets them those two options to boot that I mentioned before. No Safe Mode option or any option for that matter except the two.
I've seen the site you referred to, but they say to look for X:\sources\recovery> startrep.exe. Assuming they mention the CD drive as X, then I don't have startrep.exe on the installation disk.
I've seen the site you referred to, but they say to look for X:\sources\recovery> startrep.exe. Assuming they mention the CD drive as X, then I don't have startrep.exe on the installation disk.
Then I suggest to make them repair the boot. It colud be master boot record (MBR), is damaged.
follow with the link I provided.
follow with the link I provided.
ASKER
I'll try your suggestion but like I said the site refers to location on server installation disk that doesn't exist - X:\sources\recovery. As a matter of fact, startrep.exe is nowhere to be found on the disk either.
This may be simpler: Take a look on how to restore Safe mode in widows 2008 server
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-boot-windows-in-safe-mode-when-f8-key-is-not-working-add-safe-mode-option-to-windows-boot-loader/
http://www.askvg.com/how-to-boot-windows-in-safe-mode-when-f8-key-is-not-working-add-safe-mode-option-to-windows-boot-loader/
ASKER
Startrep and SFC didn't reveal any issues whatsoever. I did notice though that the drive letters were screwed up or so I think. It's supposed to be C: where windows folder is located and D: where my data is. Now it is C: is empty, D: is where windows is and E: is where the data is. The server was build by someone else and perhaps that's the way it was, but all my other servers do have just C: and D:. Could this be an issue, how did this happen and how to fix it?
Thanks.
Thanks.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
Nothing else worked except rebuilding the server, which took me less than reading all threads from all the forums I participate in. Too sad, but it's true.
As the first step you need ask user to boot in safe mode as it will ellimate many of possibilities of issues., such as corrpurted drives and harware.
Ask user to press F8 to bring the safe mode option.
If you go to client side I recommend to login to safe mode and look into windows Events and look for Error there to find cause of the crash.