SBS 2003 Stuck on Preparing network connections for over 24 hours

Hi.

A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a strange
problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing network
connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still stuck on
preparing network connections.

Any suggestions ?

Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might not
help, but then again it might.

J

"Jorn Christian" wrote:

> Hi.
>
> A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a strange
> problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing network
> connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still stuck on
> preparing network connections.
>
> Any suggestions ?

The server is a SBS 2000 server not SBS 2003.


"Jorn Christian" wrote:

> Hi.
>
> A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a strange
> problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing network
> connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still stuck on
> preparing network connections.
>
> Any suggestions ?

I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the problem
remains the same.

I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a new pci
network card to see if that might help.


Jason" wrote:

> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might not
> help, but then again it might.
>
> J
>
> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
>
> > Hi.
> >
> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a strange
> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing network
> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still stuck on
> > preparing network connections.
> >
> > Any suggestions ?

Can you boot into Safe Mode and and then post the results of an ipconfig
/all for the SBS server?

--
Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

"Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A0C915E5-4F0F-48C9-A9F1-466B46A097AE@microsoft.com...
>I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the problem
> remains the same.
>
> I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a new
> pci
> network card to see if that might help.
>
>
> Jason" wrote:
>
>> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might not
>> help, but then again it might.
>>
>> J
>>
>> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
>>
>> > Hi.
>> >
>> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a
>> > strange
>> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing network
>> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still
>> > stuck on
>> > preparing network connections.
>> >
>> > Any suggestions ?

I have tried to boot into Safe Mode but there it hangs after i try to logon as
Administrator. I left it alone for about 30 minutes, but it still hangs. I
can move the
mouse.

"Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]" wrote:

> Can you boot into Safe Mode and and then post the results of an ipconfig
> /all for the SBS server?
>
> --
> Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
> ============================
>
> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A0C915E5-4F0F-48C9-A9F1-466B46A097AE@microsoft.com...
> >I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the problem
> > remains the same.
> >
> > I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a new
> > pci
> > network card to see if that might help.
> >
> >
> > Jason" wrote:
> >
> >> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might not
> >> help, but then again it might.
> >>
> >> J
> >>
> >> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
> >>
> >> > Hi.
> >> >
> >> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a
> >> > strange
> >> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing network
> >> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still
> >> > stuck on
> >> > preparing network connections.
> >> >
> >> > Any suggestions ?
>
>
>

Do you have another domain admin account on the server that you can try (in
case the Administrator account profile is corrupt)?

--
Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

"Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2994FBE8-A46D-48E5-8032-839B221DD4CF@microsoft.com...
>I have tried to boot into Safe Mode but there it hangs after i try to logon
>as
> Administrator. I left it alone for about 30 minutes, but it still hangs. I
> can move the
> mouse.
>
> "Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Can you boot into Safe Mode and and then post the results of an
>> ipconfig
>> /all for the SBS server?
>>
>> --
>> Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
>> ============================
>>
>> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> message
>> news:A0C915E5-4F0F-48C9-A9F1-466B46A097AE@microsoft.com...
>> >I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the problem
>> > remains the same.
>> >
>> > I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a
>> > new
>> > pci
>> > network card to see if that might help.
>> >
>> >
>> > Jason" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might
>> >> not
>> >> help, but then again it might.
>> >>
>> >> J
>> >>
>> >> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Hi.
>> >> >
>> >> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a
>> >> > strange
>> >> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing
>> >> > network
>> >> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still
>> >> > stuck on
>> >> > preparing network connections.
>> >> >
>> >> > Any suggestions ?
>>
>>
>>

You should use Directory Services Restore Mode rather than safe mode.

Changing the NICs now is more likely to make the problem worse. You want to
make as little change as possible and get the system to start in DSRM. We're
not gonna be restoring anything, just using this mode so that the system
does not try to contact AD, the long startup times are _normally_ a sign of
problems talking to AD, generally due to networking.

"Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2994FBE8-A46D-48E5-8032-839B221DD4CF@microsoft.com...
>I have tried to boot into Safe Mode but there it hangs after i try to logon
>as
> Administrator. I left it alone for about 30 minutes, but it still hangs. I
> can move the
> mouse.
>
> "Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Can you boot into Safe Mode and and then post the results of an
>> ipconfig
>> /all for the SBS server?
>>
>> --
>> Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
>> ============================
>>
>> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> message
>> news:A0C915E5-4F0F-48C9-A9F1-466B46A097AE@microsoft.com...
>> >I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the problem
>> > remains the same.
>> >
>> > I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a
>> > new
>> > pci
>> > network card to see if that might help.
>> >
>> >
>> > Jason" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might
>> >> not
>> >> help, but then again it might.
>> >>
>> >> J
>> >>
>> >> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
>> >>
>> >> > Hi.
>> >> >
>> >> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a
>> >> > strange
>> >> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing
>> >> > network
>> >> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still
>> >> > stuck on
>> >> > preparing network connections.
>> >> >
>> >> > Any suggestions ?
>>
>>
>>

Hi.
I have now booted the server up in Directory Services Restore Mode and
logged in with the administrator account.

What shoud i try to do now ?

"SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" wrote:

> You should use Directory Services Restore Mode rather than safe mode.
>
> Changing the NICs now is more likely to make the problem worse. You want to
> make as little change as possible and get the system to start in DSRM. We're
> not gonna be restoring anything, just using this mode so that the system
> does not try to contact AD, the long startup times are _normally_ a sign of
> problems talking to AD, generally due to networking.
>
> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2994FBE8-A46D-48E5-8032-839B221DD4CF@microsoft.com...
> >I have tried to boot into Safe Mode but there it hangs after i try to logon
> >as
> > Administrator. I left it alone for about 30 minutes, but it still hangs. I
> > can move the
> > mouse.
> >
> > "Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> Can you boot into Safe Mode and and then post the results of an
> >> ipconfig
> >> /all for the SBS server?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
> >> ============================
> >>
> >> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> >> message
> >> news:A0C915E5-4F0F-48C9-A9F1-466B46A097AE@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the problem
> >> > remains the same.
> >> >
> >> > I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a
> >> > new
> >> > pci
> >> > network card to see if that might help.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Jason" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might
> >> >> not
> >> >> help, but then again it might.
> >> >>
> >> >> J
> >> >>
> >> >> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > Hi.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a
> >> >> > strange
> >> >> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing
> >> >> > network
> >> >> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still
> >> >> > stuck on
> >> >> > preparing network connections.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Any suggestions ?
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Same problem with another admin account.

I am able to boot into Directory Services Restore Mode and logon with the
administrator account.

"Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]" wrote:

> Do you have another domain admin account on the server that you can try (in
> case the Administrator account profile is corrupt)?
>
> --
> Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
> ============================
>
> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:2994FBE8-A46D-48E5-8032-839B221DD4CF@microsoft.com...
> >I have tried to boot into Safe Mode but there it hangs after i try to logon
> >as
> > Administrator. I left it alone for about 30 minutes, but it still hangs. I
> > can move the
> > mouse.
> >
> > "Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]" wrote:
> >
> >> Can you boot into Safe Mode and and then post the results of an
> >> ipconfig
> >> /all for the SBS server?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
> >> ============================
> >>
> >> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
> >> message
> >> news:A0C915E5-4F0F-48C9-A9F1-466B46A097AE@microsoft.com...
> >> >I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the problem
> >> > remains the same.
> >> >
> >> > I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a
> >> > new
> >> > pci
> >> > network card to see if that might help.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Jason" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged? Might
> >> >> not
> >> >> help, but then again it might.
> >> >>
> >> >> J
> >> >>
> >> >> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> > Hi.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a
> >> >> > strange
> >> >> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing
> >> >> > network
> >> >> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but still
> >> >> > stuck on
> >> >> > preparing network connections.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Any suggestions ?
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

Check your networking 1st. Do the NICs apear as you expect them to?

Did the system report any 'new hardware found' after login? If so, restart
into DSRM again. If something has caused hardware (particularly network
hardware) to change it's config we need to let the system sort out the
changes, settle down, restart stably (at this point only to DSRM, I suggest)
and then check our networking. Ensure the IPAddress is as expected and that
the server is _only_ looking to itself for DNS. Check your bindings and the
order.

It's then time to restart normally, see if the problem still exists. You
might look at the event logs, see if there's anything in there explaining
why the system has errored.

"Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3221D496-B492-4AAE-8260-E9271FDAA903@microsoft.com...
> Hi.
> I have now booted the server up in Directory Services Restore Mode and
> logged in with the administrator account.
>
> What shoud i try to do now ?
>
> "SuperGumby [SBS MVP]" wrote:
>
>> You should use Directory Services Restore Mode rather than safe mode.
>>
>> Changing the NICs now is more likely to make the problem worse. You want
>> to
>> make as little change as possible and get the system to start in DSRM.
>> We're
>> not gonna be restoring anything, just using this mode so that the system
>> does not try to contact AD, the long startup times are _normally_ a sign
>> of
>> problems talking to AD, generally due to networking.
>>
>> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> message
>> news:2994FBE8-A46D-48E5-8032-839B221DD4CF@microsoft.com...
>> >I have tried to boot into Safe Mode but there it hangs after i try to
>> >logon
>> >as
>> > Administrator. I left it alone for about 30 minutes, but it still
>> > hangs. I
>> > can move the
>> > mouse.
>> >
>> > "Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Can you boot into Safe Mode and and then post the results of an
>> >> ipconfig
>> >> /all for the SBS server?
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
>> >> ============================
>> >>
>> >> "Jorn Christian" <JornChristian@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> news:A0C915E5-4F0F-48C9-A9F1-466B46A097AE@microsoft.com...
>> >> >I have tried to boot without the network cable pluged in but the
>> >> >problem
>> >> > remains the same.
>> >> >
>> >> > I will nowl try to disable the onboard network adapter and install a
>> >> > new
>> >> > pci
>> >> > network card to see if that might help.
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Jason" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Have you tried booting it up with the network cable unplugged?
>> >> >> Might
>> >> >> not
>> >> >> help, but then again it might.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> J
>> >> >>
>> >> >> "Jorn Christian" wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> > Hi.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > A customers HP Proliant ML 330 SBS 2003 server starting having a
>> >> >> > strange
>> >> >> > problem yesterday. It have on boot been stuck on the preparing
>> >> >> > network
>> >> >> > connections for over 24 ours now. Tried to reboot today, but
>> >> >> > still
>> >> >> > stuck on
>> >> >> > preparing network connections.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Any suggestions ?
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>