Windows 2003 Server hangs at splash screen / acpitabl.dat after SP

After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1, update
to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server. In
normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the server?

We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored 80G
SATA drives.

"GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
> update
> to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server. In
> normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
> acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the server?
>
> We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored 80G
> SATA drives.
>

Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:

1. Back up the server.
2. Restore it to a different disk.
3. Test it.
4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.

Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
this:
1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
second half of the mirror.
3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.

Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me "Sorry
that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will need
to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and using a
drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system to
test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely practical
for a one-server small business.

What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex procedure? MS
advises us to install updates they recommend.

Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!

I need a better solution.

Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
comments about a solution that involves restoring
%sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>
> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
> > update
> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server. In
> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the server?
> >
> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored 80G
> > SATA drives.
> >
>
> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
>
> 1. Back up the server.
> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
> 3. Test it.
> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
>
> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
> this:
> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
> second half of the mirror.
> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
>
>
>

Pegasus is right,

before every major update, you would do a backup. So if it's goes bad, you
can restore to the stable state.

He also indicated that you may test what will go on, by restoring the
production environnement to a test environnement (a big pc). So you can test
SP2 before applying it to the production system.
If you had done this way, you would had notice that the server hangs, and
now your production one would be still working in RTM (SP0).

You got the picture for the next SP ;)

Why do you involve restoring update.sys ? you do not mention any error about
it

--
Cordialement,
Mathieu CHATEAU
http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com


"GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me "Sorry
> that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
> need
> to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and using
> a
> drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system to
> test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
> practical
> for a one-server small business.
>
> What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex procedure?
> MS
> advises us to install updates they recommend.
>
> Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
>
> I need a better solution.
>
> Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
> comments about a solution that involves restoring
> %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
>>
>> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
>> > update
>> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server.
>> > In
>> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
>> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
>> > server?
>> >
>> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
>> > 80G
>> > SATA drives.
>> >
>>
>> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
>> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
>> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
>> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
>>
>> 1. Back up the server.
>> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
>> 3. Test it.
>> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
>>
>> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
>> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
>> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
>> this:
>> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
>> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
>> second half of the mirror.
>> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
>> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
>> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
>> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
>>
>>
>>

Sorry, I should have placed my thoughts in a different order. Here
they are again:

1. By far the best method to restore your server is to
perform a restoration from a tested backup.
2. If you failed to make a backup prior to ther upgrade, you're
stuck.
3. To create moderately useable backup, use ntbackup.exe.
4. To create a more useable backup, use an imaging product.
5. Alternatively, if your disks are mirrored, split the mirror prior
to the upgrade in order to retain your existing installation on
one of the disks.
6. If you believe that a restoration of update will solve your
problem, give it a try but make sure to back up the
original version first. If you cannot do this under the Recovery
Console, do it under a Bart PE boot.
7. When I did my most recent service pack installation, I did
not burn my wings. Instead I followed the stern warnings
I had received from my local user group about creating
and testing a full backup first. This was for a humble one-server
business with just 12 staff.


"GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me "Sorry
> that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
> need
> to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and using
> a
> drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system to
> test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
> practical
> for a one-server small business.
>
> What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex procedure?
> MS
> advises us to install updates they recommend.
>
> Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
>
> I need a better solution.
>
> Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
> comments about a solution that involves restoring
> %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
>>
>> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
>> > update
>> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server.
>> > In
>> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
>> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
>> > server?
>> >
>> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
>> > 80G
>> > SATA drives.
>> >
>>
>> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
>> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
>> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
>> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
>>
>> 1. Back up the server.
>> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
>> 3. Test it.
>> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
>>
>> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
>> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
>> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
>> this:
>> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
>> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
>> second half of the mirror.
>> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
>> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
>> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
>> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
>>
>>
>>

Step 5 is a bit risky, you know the murphy rules, if it can goes bad, it
will ;)

--
Cordialement,
Mathieu CHATEAU
http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com


"Pegasus (MVP)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:ucxVVEI%[email protected]...
> Sorry, I should have placed my thoughts in a different order. Here
> they are again:
>
> 1. By far the best method to restore your server is to
> perform a restoration from a tested backup.
> 2. If you failed to make a backup prior to ther upgrade, you're
> stuck.
> 3. To create moderately useable backup, use ntbackup.exe.
> 4. To create a more useable backup, use an imaging product.
> 5. Alternatively, if your disks are mirrored, split the mirror prior
> to the upgrade in order to retain your existing installation on
> one of the disks.
> 6. If you believe that a restoration of update will solve your
> problem, give it a try but make sure to back up the
> original version first. If you cannot do this under the Recovery
> Console, do it under a Bart PE boot.
> 7. When I did my most recent service pack installation, I did
> not burn my wings. Instead I followed the stern warnings
> I had received from my local user group about creating
> and testing a full backup first. This was for a humble one-server
> business with just 12 staff.
>
>
> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
> message news:[email protected]...
>> Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me "Sorry
>> that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
>> need
>> to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and using
>> a
>> drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system to
>> test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
>> practical
>> for a one-server small business.
>>
>> What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex procedure?
>> MS
>> advises us to install updates they recommend.
>>
>> Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
>>
>> I need a better solution.
>>
>> Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
>> comments about a solution that involves restoring
>> %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
>>
>> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>>> message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
>>> > update
>>> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server.
>>> > In
>>> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
>>> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
>>> > server?
>>> >
>>> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
>>> > 80G
>>> > SATA drives.
>>> >
>>>
>>> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
>>> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
>>> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
>>> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
>>>
>>> 1. Back up the server.
>>> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
>>> 3. Test it.
>>> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
>>>
>>> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
>>> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
>>> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
>>> this:
>>> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
>>> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
>>> second half of the mirror.
>>> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
>>> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
>>> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
>>> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>

I agree, but it's better than nothing. If the OP tests this method
first then he will be safe.


"Mathieu CHATEAU" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:OX$LHHI%[email protected]...
> Step 5 is a bit risky, you know the murphy rules, if it can goes bad, it
> will ;)
>
> --
> Cordialement,
> Mathieu CHATEAU
> http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
>
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:ucxVVEI%[email protected]...
>> Sorry, I should have placed my thoughts in a different order. Here
>> they are again:
>>
>> 1. By far the best method to restore your server is to
>> perform a restoration from a tested backup.
>> 2. If you failed to make a backup prior to ther upgrade, you're
>> stuck.
>> 3. To create moderately useable backup, use ntbackup.exe.
>> 4. To create a more useable backup, use an imaging product.
>> 5. Alternatively, if your disks are mirrored, split the mirror prior
>> to the upgrade in order to retain your existing installation on
>> one of the disks.
>> 6. If you believe that a restoration of update will solve your
>> problem, give it a try but make sure to back up the
>> original version first. If you cannot do this under the Recovery
>> Console, do it under a Bart PE boot.
>> 7. When I did my most recent service pack installation, I did
>> not burn my wings. Instead I followed the stern warnings
>> I had received from my local user group about creating
>> and testing a full backup first. This was for a humble one-server
>> business with just 12 staff.
>>
>>
>> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> message news:[email protected]...
>>> Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me
>>> "Sorry
>>> that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
>>> need
>>> to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and
>>> using a
>>> drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system
>>> to
>>> test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
>>> practical
>>> for a one-server small business.
>>>
>>> What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex procedure?
>>> MS
>>> advises us to install updates they recommend.
>>>
>>> Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
>>>
>>> I need a better solution.
>>>
>>> Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
>>> comments about a solution that involves restoring
>>> %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
>>>
>>> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>>>> message
>>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
>>>> > update
>>>> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server.
>>>> > In
>>>> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
>>>> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
>>>> > server?
>>>> >
>>>> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
>>>> > 80G
>>>> > SATA drives.
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
>>>> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
>>>> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
>>>> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Back up the server.
>>>> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
>>>> 3. Test it.
>>>> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
>>>>
>>>> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
>>>> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
>>>> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
>>>> this:
>>>> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
>>>> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
>>>> second half of the mirror.
>>>> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
>>>> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
>>>> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
>>>> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>

OK - I got the point - find a way to test the SP before installing it on the
production system. however, if the test machine and te production server are
not the same hardware, then some incompatibles can slip thru - that is -
nothing breaks the test machine but something breaks the target. Seems
impractcal - but, if we could afford the mirror machine, I'd do it that way
for sure. The downtime to restore a backup to a different disk might be a
little hard to take - but certainly means less hardware cost.

The idea about "restoring" update.sys to RTM(0) level came from some threads
I read about symptoms similar to what I experienced - that is, a hang a
loading acpitabl.dat when booting in safe mode while haning at splash screen
in normal boot up mode.

If I undrstand you both (Mr. Pegasus and Mr. Chateau), I get the message
that the only way out of this pickle is to find some way to restore from
backups (which we do have). However, to restore, I need to (re-)install the
opsys, install the backup program, re-catog or locate and reuse the catalogs
of the backup media, and then restore the system folders from the backups.

"Mathieu CHATEAU" wrote:

> Why do you involve restoring update.sys ? you do not mention any error about
> it
>
> --
> Cordialement,
> Mathieu CHATEAU
> http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
>
>
> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me "Sorry
> > that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
> > need
> > to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and using
> > a
> > drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system to
> > test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
> > practical
> > for a one-server small business.
> >
> > What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex procedure?
> > MS
> > advises us to install updates they recommend.
> >
> > Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
> >
> > I need a better solution.
> >
> > Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
> > comments about a solution that involves restoring
> > %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
> >
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
> >> > update
> >> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server.
> >> > In
> >> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
> >> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
> >> > server?
> >> >
> >> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
> >> > 80G
> >> > SATA drives.
> >> >
> >>
> >> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
> >> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
> >> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
> >> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
> >>
> >> 1. Back up the server.
> >> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
> >> 3. Test it.
> >> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
> >>
> >> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
> >> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
> >> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
> >> this:
> >> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
> >> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
> >> second half of the mirror.
> >> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
> >> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
> >> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
> >> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>

I've got a backup, but I would need to install the opsys and the backup
program in order to restore the original opsys, wouldn't I?

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

> Sorry, I should have placed my thoughts in a different order. Here
> they are again:
>
> 1. By far the best method to restore your server is to
> perform a restoration from a tested backup.
> 2. If you failed to make a backup prior to ther upgrade, you're
> stuck.
> 3. To create moderately useable backup, use ntbackup.exe.
> 4. To create a more useable backup, use an imaging product.
> 5. Alternatively, if your disks are mirrored, split the mirror prior
> to the upgrade in order to retain your existing installation on
> one of the disks.
> 6. If you believe that a restoration of update will solve your
> problem, give it a try but make sure to back up the
> original version first. If you cannot do this under the Recovery
> Console, do it under a Bart PE boot.
> 7. When I did my most recent service pack installation, I did
> not burn my wings. Instead I followed the stern warnings
> I had received from my local user group about creating
> and testing a full backup first. This was for a humble one-server
> business with just 12 staff.
>
>
> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me "Sorry
> > that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
> > need
> > to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and using
> > a
> > drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system to
> > test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
> > practical
> > for a one-server small business.
> >
> > What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex procedure?
> > MS
> > advises us to install updates they recommend.
> >
> > Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
> >
> > I need a better solution.
> >
> > Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
> > comments about a solution that involves restoring
> > %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
> >
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
> >> > update
> >> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart server.
> >> > In
> >> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
> >> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
> >> > server?
> >> >
> >> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
> >> > 80G
> >> > SATA drives.
> >> >
> >>
> >> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
> >> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
> >> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
> >> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
> >>
> >> 1. Back up the server.
> >> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
> >> 3. Test it.
> >> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
> >>
> >> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
> >> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
> >> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
> >> this:
> >> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
> >> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
> >> second half of the mirror.
> >> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
> >> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
> >> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
> >> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

A general comment: I have a number of server systems under
management and I am painfully aware how the productivity of
my clients would be affected if their server fell over. Servers
can fail for a number of reasons, e.g. hardware failure, OS
corruption, an update gone wrong, human error (which is the
most likely cause). It is for this reason that I always maintain
a system backup. I test it twice each year so that I can tell my
client with confidence that the worst system outage he could
expect would be half a day.

See below for further comments.


"GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> OK - I got the point - find a way to test the SP before installing it on
> the
> production system. however, if the test machine and te production server
> are
> not the same hardware, then some incompatibles can slip thru - that is -
> nothing breaks the test machine but something breaks the target. Seems
> impractcal - but, if we could afford the mirror machine, I'd do it that
> way
> for sure. The downtime to restore a backup to a different disk might be a
> little hard to take - but certainly means less hardware cost.

You already had the means with your mirrored disks. The downtime
to test this method would have been minimal.

> The idea about "restoring" update.sys to RTM(0) level came from some
> threads
> I read about symptoms similar to what I experienced - that is, a hang a
> loading acpitabl.dat when booting in safe mode while haning at splash
> screen
> in normal boot up mode.
>
> If I undrstand you both (Mr. Pegasus and Mr. Chateau), I get the message
> that the only way out of this pickle is to find some way to restore from
> backups (which we do have). However, to restore, I need to (re-)install
> the
> opsys, install the backup program, re-catog or locate and reuse the
> catalogs
> of the backup media, and then restore the system folders from the backups.

Yes, that's the drawback of ntbackup.exe. This is why I use
different backup methods. They let me restore a system onto
a blank disk without first loading an auxiliary version of Windows.


> "Mathieu CHATEAU" wrote:
>
>> Why do you involve restoring update.sys ? you do not mention any error
>> about
>> it
>>
>> --
>> Cordialement,
>> Mathieu CHATEAU
>> http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
>>
>>
>> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me
>> > "Sorry
>> > that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
>> > need
>> > to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and
>> > using
>> > a
>> > drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system
>> > to
>> > test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
>> > practical
>> > for a one-server small business.
>> >
>> > What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex
>> > procedure?
>> > MS
>> > advises us to install updates they recommend.
>> >
>> > Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
>> >
>> > I need a better solution.
>> >
>> > Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
>> > comments about a solution that involves restoring
>> > %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
>> >
>> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> news:[email protected]...
>> >> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
>> >> > update
>> >> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart
>> >> > server.
>> >> > In
>> >> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
>> >> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
>> >> > server?
>> >> >
>> >> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
>> >> > 80G
>> >> > SATA drives.
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
>> >> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
>> >> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
>> >> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
>> >>
>> >> 1. Back up the server.
>> >> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
>> >> 3. Test it.
>> >> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
>> >>
>> >> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
>> >> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
>> >> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
>> >> this:
>> >> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
>> >> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
>> >> second half of the mirror.
>> >> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
>> >> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
>> >> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
>> >> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

Would be better to go back to a stable state, and test further impact of SP2
on your system with a test system

--
Cordialement,
Mathieu CHATEAU
http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com


"GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've got a backup, but I would need to install the opsys and the backup
> program in order to restore the original opsys, wouldn't I?
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>
>> Sorry, I should have placed my thoughts in a different order. Here
>> they are again:
>>
>> 1. By far the best method to restore your server is to
>> perform a restoration from a tested backup.
>> 2. If you failed to make a backup prior to ther upgrade, you're
>> stuck.
>> 3. To create moderately useable backup, use ntbackup.exe.
>> 4. To create a more useable backup, use an imaging product.
>> 5. Alternatively, if your disks are mirrored, split the mirror prior
>> to the upgrade in order to retain your existing installation on
>> one of the disks.
>> 6. If you believe that a restoration of update will solve your
>> problem, give it a try but make sure to back up the
>> original version first. If you cannot do this under the Recovery
>> Console, do it under a Bart PE boot.
>> 7. When I did my most recent service pack installation, I did
>> not burn my wings. Instead I followed the stern warnings
>> I had received from my local user group about creating
>> and testing a full backup first. This was for a humble one-server
>> business with just 12 staff.
>>
>>
>> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> > Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me
>> > "Sorry
>> > that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
>> > need
>> > to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and
>> > using
>> > a
>> > drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system
>> > to
>> > test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
>> > practical
>> > for a one-server small business.
>> >
>> > What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex
>> > procedure?
>> > MS
>> > advises us to install updates they recommend.
>> >
>> > Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
>> >
>> > I need a better solution.
>> >
>> > Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
>> > comments about a solution that involves restoring
>> > %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
>> >
>> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
>> >
>> >>
>> >> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> news:[email protected]...
>> >> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
>> >> > update
>> >> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart
>> >> > server.
>> >> > In
>> >> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
>> >> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
>> >> > server?
>> >> >
>> >> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
>> >> > 80G
>> >> > SATA drives.
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
>> >> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
>> >> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
>> >> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
>> >>
>> >> 1. Back up the server.
>> >> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
>> >> 3. Test it.
>> >> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
>> >>
>> >> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
>> >> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
>> >> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
>> >> this:
>> >> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
>> >> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
>> >> second half of the mirror.
>> >> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
>> >> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
>> >> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
>> >> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

We resolved the issue. turns out that the HP-supplied driver for the embedded
RAID controller ws not compatible with MS Win2k3 SP2 when detecting and
handling a disk error. When I installed a parallel win2k3 on the system
using the most recent SATA RAID driver, the system came up and reported the
hitherto unknown disk error (bad blocks). After I replaced the original
driver with the updated driver in the original Win2k3 installation, the
server booted into the original installation and I confirmed the disk errors
in the event viewer. I found a thread elswhere that reported a problem with
the RTM-level HP Embedded SATA RAID driver. So, when I noted that the current
RAID driver at HP was a later date than the one we had originally installed,
i concluded it was worth a try. Side note: The mirror-drive was defective
to the point where we could not write to the partition in console recovery.
Ultimately, the mirror-drive had to be reformatted and resynch'ed.

"Mathieu CHATEAU" wrote:

> Would be better to go back to a stable state, and test further impact of SP2
> on your system with a test system
>
> --
> Cordialement,
> Mathieu CHATEAU
> http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
>
>
> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I've got a backup, but I would need to install the opsys and the backup
> > program in order to restore the original opsys, wouldn't I?
> >
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> >
> >> Sorry, I should have placed my thoughts in a different order. Here
> >> they are again:
> >>
> >> 1. By far the best method to restore your server is to
> >> perform a restoration from a tested backup.
> >> 2. If you failed to make a backup prior to ther upgrade, you're
> >> stuck.
> >> 3. To create moderately useable backup, use ntbackup.exe.
> >> 4. To create a more useable backup, use an imaging product.
> >> 5. Alternatively, if your disks are mirrored, split the mirror prior
> >> to the upgrade in order to retain your existing installation on
> >> one of the disks.
> >> 6. If you believe that a restoration of update will solve your
> >> problem, give it a try but make sure to back up the
> >> original version first. If you cannot do this under the Recovery
> >> Console, do it under a Bart PE boot.
> >> 7. When I did my most recent service pack installation, I did
> >> not burn my wings. Instead I followed the stern warnings
> >> I had received from my local user group about creating
> >> and testing a full backup first. This was for a humble one-server
> >> business with just 12 staff.
> >>
> >>
> >> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> message
> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> > Your answer is a bit confusing. On the one hand you're telling me
> >> > "Sorry
> >> > that installing our updates hang your server so severely that you will
> >> > need
> >> > to rebuild and restore"; then you write something about backups and
> >> > using
> >> > a
> >> > drive imaging tool like Ghost, etc., and then to use a separate system
> >> > to
> >> > test an upgrade - was that for future reference? This is scarcely
> >> > practical
> >> > for a one-server small business.
> >> >
> >> > What constitutes an upgrade that would trigger such a complex
> >> > procedure?
> >> > MS
> >> > advises us to install updates they recommend.
> >> >
> >> > Mr. Pegasus, your wings are getting burnt!
> >> >
> >> > I need a better solution.
> >> >
> >> > Does anybody in the august elite community of MS Tech experts have any
> >> > comments about a solution that involves restoring
> >> > %sysdir\system32\drivers\update.sys" from the recovery console?
> >> >
> >> > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> "GrantEllsworth" <[email protected]> wrote in
> >> >> message
> >> >> news:[email protected]...
> >> >> > After installing win2k3 sp2 on win2k3 server which had no prior sp1,
> >> >> > update
> >> >> > to dot.net framework 3.0 hung and I had to power down/restart
> >> >> > server.
> >> >> > In
> >> >> > normal boot, it hangs at spash screen; in safe mode, it hangs at
> >> >> > acpitabl.dat. What can I do to fix without having to rebuild the
> >> >> > server?
> >> >> >
> >> >> > We are running win2k3 on a HP Proliant ML150 G2 with win2k3 mirrored
> >> >> > 80G
> >> >> > SATA drives.
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> Your best bet is probably to restore the server from
> >> >> your most recent backup. If you do not have one then
> >> >> you may have to rebuild it. It would be a painful reminder
> >> >> to adopt this procedure for significant upgrades:
> >> >>
> >> >> 1. Back up the server.
> >> >> 2. Restore it to a different disk.
> >> >> 3. Test it.
> >> >> 4. If successful, proceed with the upgrade.
> >> >>
> >> >> Other than the native ntbackup tool (which makes restoration
> >> >> to a new disk difficult) there are several third party tools
> >> >> such as Acronis or Ghost. In your case you could even do
> >> >> this:
> >> >> 1. Remove the primary disk from your mirror set.
> >> >> 2. Boot the machine with a floppy disk, using the
> >> >> second half of the mirror.
> >> >> 3. If successful, upgrade the first half of the mirror.
> >> >> 4. If the upgrade is successful, rebuild the mirror.
> >> >> 5. If the upgrade fails, boot the machine as per Step 2
> >> >> above, then rebuild the mirror from the second half.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>

All, this person's issue was that they could not boot past the splash screen, and they were looking for a way to bring up the server WITHOUT reloading. For all of your chastising about not following proper testing proceedures before performing an upgrade, none of you answered their question.

In the event your server will not boot past the splash after a software update (or failed one), and safe mode and last known good do not work, you have but two options:

1) EASIEST WITH NO RELOAD - Boot to a windows Server 2003 disk and perform a repair on the OS (not the recovery console, but rather the one that you have the option to perform in lieue of overwriting the windows installation. Not gonna provide instructions here. If you need them at this point you should probably call in qualified help (www.securevizion.com). After performing the repair, you will need to reinstall ALL Windows OS and OS add-on applications, but your server will boot.

2) HARDER - Reinstall the OS and recover using your backup proceedures.


In the event this happened after a hardware change, remove the offending hardware and try to boot. If no luck perform the first option.

Hope this helps someone...the original poster has probably already resolved their issue. For all others, chastising a person in need when they post a request for help in a forum is non-productive and uncalled for. It helps not the original person requesting help nor anyone else, and it clutters the post making searching for an answer harder. My two cents.. Ray

The information in this thread is outstanding...all of it! I learned a great deal of proper testing procedures and a possible fix for the same problem on an HP DL380 G4 with an HP Storage Works Msa20 disk arrary 12 500gb drives.

The situation is that the server was rock solid until a weekend that a possible power outage occured. Yes there is a UPS that is out of date and the replacement is in a box on the server floor. No new software was installed and no new hardware was installed. I have upgraded the driver for the controller card to no avail.

HELP!!

Hello Macesr1, what is your question?

--
Isaac Oben [MCTIP, MCSE]
"Macesr1" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> The information in this thread is outstanding...all of it! I learned a
> great deal of proper testing procedures and a possible fix for the same
> problem on an HP DL380 G4 with an HP Storage Works Msa20 disk arrary 12
> 500gb drives.
>
> The situation is that the server was rock solid until a weekend that a
> possible power outage occured. Yes there is a UPS that is out of date
> and the replacement is in a box on the server floor. No new software was
> installed and no new hardware was installed. I have upgraded the driver
> for the controller card to no avail.
>
> HELP!!
>
>
> --
> Macesr1
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Macesr1's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/macesr1.htm
> View this thread:
> http://forums.techarena.in/windows-s...elp/818792.htm
>
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>