HELP!! - Windows Advanced Server 2000 Boot Up Frozen

If I press F8, I see the following.  How can I boot into Windows Safe mode without the CD?
Screenshot_2.jpg

The operating system is damaged and I think you will need to back it up and reinstall. You WILL need the CD for Server 2000.

How can I boot into safe mode?  I should be able to do a CHKDSK within safe mode.  Please help.

For server 2000, press F8 on startup, but you did that and it did not work. That is because the OS is damaged or there is a hard drive issue (and you say no to that).

Plug it out and let it sit there for about ten minutes when you unplug it press the power button to dispel the rest of the power left inside it

If F8 is pressed before RAID finishes loading up, then the above screen  can show up in Screenshot 2.

My guess is that boot.ini is corrupt and or a chkdsk should fix the Windows loading issue.  

If I can find the original CD, how do I try to restore Windows?  The problem is that the CD is lost somewhere and it take awhile to find  =(

Be careful running CHKDSK. If / when you run CHDSK, run it non invasively to see if there are issues. Running CHKDSK on a damaged disk can create bigger issues.

restore from a backup, what you have no backups?

This is an older server so only files are backed up.  

I need to boot into Windows safe mode.

It's a very slim chance that I find the CD, but if (and it's a big if) how do I use it to restore Windows 2000 Advanced Server?

There should be another way to do this without the CD.

Windows 2000 is crazy old and by default did not copy the CD contents to the drive like Windows 2008 and later installs did, so if you want to perform any kind of software updates or repair installation work, you *have* to have the CD. There is no way around it. If you want, you can try downloading an ISO for Windows 2000 and burning a CD using that. Run a google search for the Windows 2000 Advanced Server ISO, but make sure your AV is turned on, cause I can't guarantee you'll get what you're looking for.

i suggest to run a diagnostic on your boot disk -  i use the ubcd for this
you can hook your boot disk to a working system for running  the diag
Hardware diagnostic CD    UBCD
---------------------------------------------------
go to the download page, scroll down to the mirror section, and  click on a mirror to start the download
Download the UBCD and make the cd   <<==on a WORKING PC, and boot the problem PC from it
Here 2 links, one to the general site, and a direct link to the download

since the downloaded file is an ISO file, eg ubcd527.iso - so you need to use an ISO burning tool
if you don't have that software, install cdburnerXP : http://cdburnerxp.se/

If you want also the Ram tested - run memtest86+ at least 1 full pass,  - you should have NO errors!
 
For disk Diagnostics run the disk diag for your disk brand (eg seagate diag for seagate drive)  from the HDD section -  long or advanced diag !  (runs at least for30 minutes)

http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/      

**  you can make a bootable cd - or bootable usb stick
*** note *** for SSD drives  use the tool from the manufacturer, like intel 's toolbox :
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/18455/Intel-Solid-State-Drive-Toolbox

for completeness -here's how i handle disk problems : https://www.experts-exchange.com/Storage/Hard_Drives/A_3000-The-bad-hard-disk-problem.html

==>>****in order to be able to  boot from CD or usb - you may have to disable secure boot in the bios

I found my Windows 2000 Advanced Server CD and was able to get into Windows Safe mode.  I choose "Last Known Good Configuration" and it's frozen again with one bar at the bottom.

Which other Windows option should I try?  Screenshot attached.
Screenshot_5.jpg

no windows option will help imo - if you have hardware problems
that's why i Always start running these

The hard disks all have green lights, so I think they're ok.  My guess is that boot.ini is corrupted.  

Should I boot into Windows Safe Mode with Command prompt and do a chkdisk /f ?

>>   so I think they're ok  <<  and what if they are not?
but if you want to run the chkdsk

if hard-disk is ok . please try chkdsk /f I will try couple of hours in some cases in order fix the damaged files .

most of the cases fixed after using chkdsk /f . try once before new installation

Ok I will try chkdsk /f

What do you mean by new installation?

did you try the repair utility?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20068

I was able to run the Repair option after booting off the original CD, but this message comes up.  Screenshots attached.

Should I reinstall the RAID drivers and will this fix the Windows loading problem?

Screenshots attached.
IMG_5924.JPG
IMG_5925.PNG

You can try, but I don't think RAID drivers that were working would fix this issue.

How can I copy files from the server now to a USB thumb drive?

You would have to try to boot the server with a bootable CD and see if it can see the RAID drives.

Which bootable CD for Windows Advanced Server are you referring to that I can use to see the RAID drives?  What am I looking for exactly?

You can use most any bootable CD to start the Server without the operating system. What I am unsure of if any (including the Windows 2000 CD) will see the raid drives. The Server 2000 CD might. I have not done that,

How can I backup some files before doing this?

You need to find a bootable CD with RAID drivers. Tough for a very old machine and OS like that

Nobus & CompProbSolv - what do you suggest based on the recent screenshots?

John is pointing you in the right direction.  Your drives are working to some degree as they do start to boot.  You're not able to get to the array with the Windows 2000 boot CD because it doesn't have the appropriate RAID drivers.  You could try to find the RAID drivers, put them on a floppy, and then hit the appropriate button (F6, I believe) at the prompt when booting the Windows 2000 CD.  If it finds the correct drivers, you should be able to see the disks and back up data.

As John indicated, you can use just about any version of Windows for copying files or doing a basic assessment of the state of the drive.  You'd just have to find one that has the appropriate RAID drivers included or added.

The PowerEdge 1750 WIndows 2000 drivers should be available here:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/poweredge-1750/drivers?os=wnt5

I would give serious thought to grabbing the data that you want from this and then setting up a server with newer hardware and a newer OS.

it may be necessary to unpack the drivers from the install file - use 7-zip for that

There was a RAID driver on one of my CDs but I'm sure if it was the right one.  This is what I see now ... any suggestions? =(
Screenshot_1.jpg
Screenshot_2.jpg

Where can I get the right RAID drivers for Dell PowerEdge 1750 and Windows 2000 Advanced Server?  It seems like it is looking for 3.5" disks and not a CD?

here they are :  http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/poweredge-1750/drivers

I was able to load the RAID driver, selected the repair Windows 2000 installation via the "C" option, entered the password, and now I am at the C:\WINNT prompt.  What should I do now?

Screenshot attached.
Screenshot_5.jpg

I already tried the repair option which is in the link and I get the dos prompt now.

What should I do now?

At the command prompt should I run fixmbr and then chkdsk?  Which chkdsk parameter should I use?

Or has the disk been recovered already that I don't need to do a fix mbr or chkdsk?

At this point, if you have the CD and a backup, it may take less time just to reinstall Windows 2000 Server (only about an hour to install).

How do I reinstall Windows at the command prompt, and will this delete all files and settings on the server?

Yes, so you need a backup first.  Run Setup from the command prompt

Nobus & AndyAlder - what do you suggest?

I think RAID and or Windows has been repaired now but I'm not sure if I need to do a Fixmbr and or chkdsk now, before exiting from the dos prompt.

Try fixmbr as I don't think CHKDSK will do much to get you started

RE: I think RAID and or Windows has been repaired now but I'm not sure if I need to do a Fixmbr and or chkdsk now, before exiting from the dos prompt.

What about fixboot?  

Nobus & AndyAlder - please help.

here's what i did when using XP - it goes for win 2000 too :
Boot using the Windows XP installation disk, press R. Then type the following commands:
note : you can test after each command

      FIXMBR
      FIXBOOT
      BOOTCFG /rebuild

      cd\
      copy E:\i386\NTLDR c:\
      ATTRIB -arsh ntldr
      copy e:\i386\NTDETECT.COM
      ATTRIB -arsh ntdetect.com c:\

E: should be the location of your CDRom where you have the Windows install disk located.
and check if those files are in the root :   NTLDR   boot.ini     ntdetect.com

Contents of the boot.ini file :
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

check this too for more info :  http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm#What_if_none_of_the_options_worked?

Nobus - I was able to load the RAID driver, selected the repair Windows 2000 installation via the "C" option, entered the password, and now I am at the C:\WINNT prompt.

Do I just run the commands below now, or do I FIRST need to boot again using the Windows 2000 Advanced Server CD, and press R. Is R to repair Windows?  

I thought I already reparied Windows using the "C" option.  Please see https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/04_w18/1159449/Screenshot_5.jpg

RE: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

What would this line be for WIndows 2000 Advanced Server with RAID 5 set up?

>I thought I already reparied Windows using the "C" option.

C: option just gives a command prompt after which you can run commands manually to attempt to repair, it does not attempt any repair on its own.

R: option attempts automatic repair.  It will ask if you have a recovery CD but you don't, it can do some repair without it though.

AndyAlder - Do you mean I have to boot from the Windows 2000 Advanced Server CD and go into safe mode now?

What to do now to fix the previous loading freeze?  Did repairing RAID fix the freeze?

RE:  Window Advanced Server 2000 won't load up.  It is frozen and I rebooted the server many times and it only gets to this screen.  

See https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/04_w17/1159133/Screenshot_1.jpg

When you get to the screen on the right in https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2017/04_w18/1159449/Screenshot_5.jpg press R instead of C .

i usually start troubleshooting by disconnecting all devices that are not needed

here the info of the boot ini file :  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/311578/how-to-edit-the-boot.ini-file-in-windows-2000

Damn, meant left not right.

andyalder & nobus - I am at the DOS prompt now.  Should I restart the server, boot off the Windows 2000 Advanced Server CD, and press R?

If Windows reboots without freezing after the emergency repair process, then the server is ok?  

Or do boot off the CD again, press C to get into the recovery console and then do something to boot.ini and then do this in order:

   FIXMBR
      FIXBOOT
      BOOTCFG /rebuild

      cd\
      copy E:\i386\NTLDR c:\
      ATTRIB -arsh ntldr
      copy e:\i386\NTDETECT.COM
      ATTRIB -arsh ntdetect.com c:\

?

If you don't have much experience repairing Windows boot and your choices are an automated method (by pressing R) or a manual method (by pressing C) which one would you normally choose?

I've done both the automated and the manual processes before, but it's been a very long time since I did either option the last time.

The question is does doing an emergency repair via the automated method do the same thing as the manual commands using the above sequence?  Does the emergency repair option  fix boot.ini?

i can't answer your Q on what to do - i don't know what screens you got, what you did, etc...
try to recover first your data -
 btw - don't you have a backup ?

The screens that I got and what I did is posted above with photos.

The backup process failed around 3 days before the Windows loading problem.  It backs up the files on to another server.  I didn't notice this until the Windows loading issue so I am missing 3 days of data.

"I am missing 3 days of data"
When you get to the command prompt and have access to the server drives, you should be able to manually copy the data that is otherwise not backed up.

THANK YOU everyone for helping me on this!  The server is back up and running now  =)

Good news and you are most welcome