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yodaa

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Windows Server Issue Urgent

Hi Guys this morning my server doesn't want to boot up
Disk 0 still okay
Disk 1 failed

Please see my video below and if you would help me that will be great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huQscPaFKOk
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mbkitmgr
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Try the Last Known Good failing that try starting in safe mode and see how you go
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yodaa

ASKER

Okay so if I will star last good know configuration it will help ?
Last Known Good is the settings used by Windows Server for a successfull start.  Try that 1st then see what happens
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Mbkitmgr

even if disk 1 failed?
I disk 1 part of a RAID
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Replace the bad disk with a good, new one, then make sure it rebuilds the array. If it doesn't, use your controller's utility to start the rebuild process.

If after that your server still fails to boot, restore the OS from your backups.
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ASKER

Okay but I don't have extra disk to replace it especially as it is SAS 1.5k :(
Get in touch with your server manufacturer and order the disk! Best would be to get an extra one so you have one spare.

If you can't wait for the disk to arrive, restore from your backups now.
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Rindi
Are you saying that Last good config will not help?
But could I use disk and reinstall windows server without erasing all data?
It seems this hard drive is very expansive as this server is being decommissioned but runs few services
Last known has seldom helped, but of course you can try. Of course you can re-install the OS if you want, but then you will have re-install all features and run all the updates etc, and do all the setting up again. That normally takes much longer than just restoring from backups.
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ASKER

Okay so I would have to do clean install ?
Yes.
You need to order the exact same part number hard drive. The exact same or if it is not available get the next size up. Actually you should buy two and keep one on the shelf in case this happens again.

I could not see what happened at the end of the video. Where did the server wind up?

You shouldn't have to do a fresh install. If your raid is working properly it should have booted even with one bad drive. Try Last Known Good Configuration. You have nothing to lose.
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I tried last good conf and it rebooted itself again
I can't see, by your video, where the server stops. Where does the server stop on a boot? Try safe mode and select the option to not automatically reboot. That should give you the error.
Last known good is probably not going to help - it restores to the last state before logon and you're not getting to a login prompt.  Safe Mode might help.  But I would ask, with a server this old, where are your backups?  Restore from backup.
even if disk 1 failed?

first, check in BIOS whether the disk was recognized. if not, unplug power cable, open the case and check whether all cables from/to disks to mainboard are ok. if the disk is ok in bios but windows can't read it, you might check whether your power supply is sufficient. did you add some hardware recently? if yes, you may remove it and try again. if nothing helped, you should remove the bad disk and add it to another computer (or use it as disk in an external usb case). even if windows can not boot or refuses to read from it, you might be able to get access by restore Tools abd gain data from it.

Sara
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ASKER

Guys how to bootup widnows server from CD ? I want to try repair it ? where is the option bootup from CD
Have you even tried Safe Mode with F8? I think Dell uses F12 for the boot menu.
That depends on the server make and model. You can probably also select what you want to boot first from by going into the BIOS.
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Yes I was able to ran Directory services but I do know the local admin details :( as before me it was another IT guy.  
Now I have to reset password to get the access into it  
User generated image
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ASKER

To run windows server cd should I choose this one ? User generated image
Use the normal administrator password for the Directory Recovery password. Its up to you. There was a server crash just like yours here on EE about a month ago. He went through days and days of pain and suffering just because he would try F8 safe mode and select the option not to reboot when an error occurs. He did that, got the error message and recovered the server. If you don't want to try that cool. Your server.
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Locky are you saying that if I will run f8 safe mode with .... It will fix this issue ?
No. What I am saying is that there is an option on the same menu as Safe Mode to the effect "Don't reboot. Show me the error". It gives you the blue screen with the stop code. Then you have something to go after. Of course there is a chance it will start in Safe Mode too.
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Locky

You can see the bluescreen error above
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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LockDown32
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