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Thread: 2008 server: repair boot environment - how?

  1. #1
    Alwin Guest

    2008 server: repair boot environment - how?

    Hi all,

    I admit, I messed up a quite important server. Originally it was
    Windows 2008, for some testing / cloned its system partition (Norton
    Ghost) and installed Windows 2003. Some time later I restored Windws
    2008 over 2003, and since then the server does not boot any more.

    Strange: if I insert any OS CD (tried some: 2003 Server, 2000 Server,
    even XP ...) and boot, the server boots the CD, displays the normal
    "Press any key to boot from the CD" prompt, and if I do *not* press
    any key it will after some time skip the CD boot and - boot Windows
    2008 server from the Harddisk.

    I'd prefer it to boot without the helping CD, of course :-)

    Questions:

    * what does the boot process "borrow" from the CD?
    * how do I fix the boot envireonment on the harddrive? Under 2003 I'd
    have given the emergency console (fixboot/fixmbr) a chance, but I
    could not find the console in 2008.

    Any clues welcome ...

    Alwin.

  2. #2
    Pegasus \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: 2008 server: repair boot environment - how?


    "Alwin" <SimCity70@web.de> wrote in message
    news:lpare45d0ra048t29d7kgk3t5fllaq9fn9@4ax.com...
    > Hi all,
    >
    > I admit, I messed up a quite important server. Originally it was
    > Windows 2008, for some testing / cloned its system partition (Norton
    > Ghost) and installed Windows 2003. Some time later I restored Windws
    > 2008 over 2003, and since then the server does not boot any more.
    >
    > Strange: if I insert any OS CD (tried some: 2003 Server, 2000 Server,
    > even XP ...) and boot, the server boots the CD, displays the normal
    > "Press any key to boot from the CD" prompt, and if I do *not* press
    > any key it will after some time skip the CD boot and - boot Windows
    > 2008 server from the Harddisk.
    >
    > I'd prefer it to boot without the helping CD, of course :-)
    >
    > Questions:
    >
    > * what does the boot process "borrow" from the CD?
    > * how do I fix the boot envireonment on the harddrive? Under 2003 I'd
    > have given the emergency console (fixboot/fixmbr) a chance, but I
    > could not find the console in 2008.
    >
    > Any clues welcome ...
    >
    > Alwin.


    A good starting point would be to describe what exactly happens when you
    attempt to boot normally.



  3. #3
    Meinolf Weber Guest

    Re: 2008 server: repair boot environment - how?

    Hello Alwin,

    You can try to start form the original 2008 disk and choose the "Repair"
    option instead of installation.

    Best regards

    Meinolf Weber
    Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
    no rights.
    ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
    ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm


    > Hi all,
    >
    > I admit, I messed up a quite important server. Originally it was
    > Windows 2008, for some testing / cloned its system partition (Norton
    > Ghost) and installed Windows 2003. Some time later I restored Windws
    > 2008 over 2003, and since then the server does not boot any more.
    >
    > Strange: if I insert any OS CD (tried some: 2003 Server, 2000 Server,
    > even XP ...) and boot, the server boots the CD, displays the normal
    > "Press any key to boot from the CD" prompt, and if I do *not* press
    > any key it will after some time skip the CD boot and - boot Windows
    > 2008 server from the Harddisk.
    >
    > I'd prefer it to boot without the helping CD, of course :-)
    >
    > Questions:
    >
    > * what does the boot process "borrow" from the CD?
    > * how do I fix the boot envireonment on the harddrive? Under 2003 I'd
    > have given the emergency console (fixboot/fixmbr) a chance, but I
    > could not find the console in 2008.
    > Any clues welcome ...
    >
    > Alwin.
    >




  4. #4
    Alwin Guest

    Re: 2008 server: repair boot environment - how?

    Hi Pegasus,

    >A good starting point would be to describe what exactly happens when you
    >attempt to boot normally.


    Sorry, forgot to mention this :-)

    If I take the "helping" CD out of the CD-ROM drive and boot, I get a
    "DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" message.

    If I just press enter the message keeps reappering. If I insert any
    bootable Microsoft OS CD the boot process starts from the CD, and if I
    do not press any key when prompted by the CD the server boots from its
    harddrive, and works.

    ....Alwin.

  5. #5
    Dusko Savatovic Guest

    Re: 2008 server: repair boot environment - how?

    Hi Alwin,

    Boot mechanism changed in Vista/WS2008.

    You may need to recreate your boot code with bootset.exe command.
    http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc749177.aspx

    You may also find this little freeware helpfull.
    http://www.vistabootpro.org/


    "Alwin" <SimCity70@web.de> wrote in message
    news:lpare45d0ra048t29d7kgk3t5fllaq9fn9@4ax.com...
    > Hi all,
    >
    > I admit, I messed up a quite important server. Originally it was
    > Windows 2008, for some testing / cloned its system partition (Norton
    > Ghost) and installed Windows 2003. Some time later I restored Windws
    > 2008 over 2003, and since then the server does not boot any more.
    >
    > Strange: if I insert any OS CD (tried some: 2003 Server, 2000 Server,
    > even XP ...) and boot, the server boots the CD, displays the normal
    > "Press any key to boot from the CD" prompt, and if I do *not* press
    > any key it will after some time skip the CD boot and - boot Windows
    > 2008 server from the Harddisk.
    >
    > I'd prefer it to boot without the helping CD, of course :-)
    >
    > Questions:
    >
    > * what does the boot process "borrow" from the CD?
    > * how do I fix the boot envireonment on the harddrive? Under 2003 I'd
    > have given the emergency console (fixboot/fixmbr) a chance, but I
    > could not find the console in 2008.
    >
    > Any clues welcome ...
    >
    > Alwin.



  6. #6
    Alwin Guest

    Re: 2008 server: repair boot environment - how?

    Hi Meinolf,

    >You can try to start form the original 2008 disk and choose the "Repair"
    >option instead of installation.


    Already tried. If I do so I am prompted for the RAID drivers, provide
    them, repair finds and displays my operating system partition, I
    select it, and then I get the options to ...

    * Completely restore Windows from backup
    * Run Memory Disgnostics tool
    * Open a command prompt.

    All three choices do not seem to be helpful in my situation ...

    ....Alwin.

  7. #7
    Alwin Guest

    Re: 2008 server: repair boot environment - how?

    Hi Dusko

    >You may need to recreate your boot code with bootset.exe command.
    >http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../cc749177.aspx
    >


    Worked right away!

    Thanks very much, you saved my day :-)

    ....Alwin.

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