Server 2003 "applying computer settings"

[Wowbagger]

This seems to be a very common problem without any clear answers. Windows
2003 Server SP2, stand-alone DC with ActiveDirectory installed and providing
DNS services.

The machine has a static IP address.

When the server reboots (after installing patches through windowsupdate, for
example - something that will NEVER be run again on this machine) it gets to
the part about "apply computer settings" and then hangs. Sometimes the
process bar moves, sometimes it doesn't.

The APC issue does not apply here. The Symantec Antivirus issue does not
apply. The BackupExec issue does not apply.

DNS is configured correctly - the machine points at itself (127.0.0.1)

I have tried to boot with the network cable disconnected

I am able to log in with safe mode (without networking support) and have
enabled the verbose boot mode (nothing is different).

No errors in event viewer other than "can't start xxxx in safe mode" or
related.

Can anybody please help bring my server back online?

 

[Dave Patrick]

Re: Server 2003 "applying computer settings"

"DNS is configured correctly - the machine points at itself (127.0.0.1)"

Best to use the machine's actual ip address.



--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Wowbagger" wrote:
> This seems to be a very common problem without any clear answers. Windows
> 2003 Server SP2, stand-alone DC with ActiveDirectory installed and
> providing DNS services.
>
> The machine has a static IP address.
>
> When the server reboots (after installing patches through windowsupdate,
> for example - something that will NEVER be run again on this machine) it
> gets to the part about "apply computer settings" and then hangs.
> Sometimes the process bar moves, sometimes it doesn't.
>
> The APC issue does not apply here. The Symantec Antivirus issue does not
> apply. The BackupExec issue does not apply.
>
> DNS is configured correctly - the machine points at itself (127.0.0.1)
>
> I have tried to boot with the network cable disconnected
>
> I am able to log in with safe mode (without networking support) and have
> enabled the verbose boot mode (nothing is different).
>
> No errors in event viewer other than "can't start xxxx in safe mode" or
> related.
>
> Can anybody please help bring my server back online?
>
>
>
>

 

[Anthony [MVP]]

Re: Server 2003 "applying computer settings"

Do you have any errors in the event log during that time?
Anthony,
http://www.airdesk.com

"Wowbagger" <privacy, please> wrote in message
news:OcBGbFkCJHA.1816@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> This seems to be a very common problem without any clear answers. Windows
> 2003 Server SP2, stand-alone DC with ActiveDirectory installed and
> providing DNS services.
>
> The machine has a static IP address.
>
> When the server reboots (after installing patches through windowsupdate,
> for example - something that will NEVER be run again on this machine) it
> gets to the part about "apply computer settings" and then hangs.
> Sometimes the process bar moves, sometimes it doesn't.
>
> The APC issue does not apply here. The Symantec Antivirus issue does not
> apply. The BackupExec issue does not apply.
>
> DNS is configured correctly - the machine points at itself (127.0.0.1)
>
> I have tried to boot with the network cable disconnected
>
> I am able to log in with safe mode (without networking support) and have
> enabled the verbose boot mode (nothing is different).
>
> No errors in event viewer other than "can't start xxxx in safe mode" or
> related.
>
> Can anybody please help bring my server back online?
>
>
>
>

 

[Wowbagger]

Re: Server 2003 "applying computer settings"


"Anthony [MVP]" <anthony@no-reply.com> wrote in message
news:u1wnQWmCJHA.1816@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Do you have any errors in the event log during that time?

The only error that I was seeing was that internet time wasn't working.

 

[Wowbagger]

Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

After what is approaching 72 hours the machine still has not logged in. At
the moment it is displaying "Loading power profile".

 

[Wowbagger]

Re: Server 2003 "applying computer settings"

Didn't help, by the way. Guess there isn't a fix for it other than
rebuilding the server from scratch.

I wish I could get paid billions of dollars for putting out shoddy product.


"Dave Patrick" <DSPatrick@nospam.gmail.com> wrote in message
news:ezfjU%23kCJHA.4932@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "DNS is configured correctly - the machine points at itself (127.0.0.1)"
>
> Best to use the machine's actual ip address.
>
>
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
> Microsoft Certified Professional
> Microsoft MVP [Windows]
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect
>
> "Wowbagger" wrote:
>> This seems to be a very common problem without any clear answers.
>> Windows 2003 Server SP2, stand-alone DC with ActiveDirectory installed
>> and providing DNS services.
>>
>> The machine has a static IP address.
>>
>> When the server reboots (after installing patches through windowsupdate,
>> for example - something that will NEVER be run again on this machine) it
>> gets to the part about "apply computer settings" and then hangs.
>> Sometimes the process bar moves, sometimes it doesn't.
>>
>> The APC issue does not apply here. The Symantec Antivirus issue does not
>> apply. The BackupExec issue does not apply.
>>
>> DNS is configured correctly - the machine points at itself (127.0.0.1)
>>
>> I have tried to boot with the network cable disconnected
>>
>> I am able to log in with safe mode (without networking support) and have
>> enabled the verbose boot mode (nothing is different).
>>
>> No errors in event viewer other than "can't start xxxx in safe mode" or
>> related.
>>
>> Can anybody please help bring my server back online?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

 

[Mathieu CHATEAU]

Re: Server 2003 "applying computer settings"

Hello,

does it have itself as primary dns server ? You must do it if not (as it's
the only dc)

Does it have more than one nic ? Is the configured one the first in the list
(advanced menu)

What are the software installed ? absolutely nothing more than Windows ?

netdiag/dcdiag are all ok ?

Do you have the latest bios/firmware/drivers ?

never applying windows update is not a solution. We must find & fix the true
problem.

an MSRPT would help to see inside.



--
Cordialement,
Mathieu CHATEAU
English blog: http://lordoftheping.blogspot.com
French blog: http://www.lotp.fr

"Wowbagger" <privacy, please> a écrit dans le message de
news:OcBGbFkCJHA.1816@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> This seems to be a very common problem without any clear answers. Windows
> 2003 Server SP2, stand-alone DC with ActiveDirectory installed and
> providing DNS services.
>
> The machine has a static IP address.
>
> When the server reboots (after installing patches through windowsupdate,
> for example - something that will NEVER be run again on this machine) it
> gets to the part about "apply computer settings" and then hangs.
> Sometimes the process bar moves, sometimes it doesn't.
>
> The APC issue does not apply here. The Symantec Antivirus issue does not
> apply. The BackupExec issue does not apply.
>
> DNS is configured correctly - the machine points at itself (127.0.0.1)
>
> I have tried to boot with the network cable disconnected
>
> I am able to log in with safe mode (without networking support) and have
> enabled the verbose boot mode (nothing is different).
>
> No errors in event viewer other than "can't start xxxx in safe mode" or
> related.
>
> Can anybody please help bring my server back online?
>
>
>
>

 

[Wowbagger]

Re: Server 2003 "applying computer settings"

"Mathieu CHATEAU" <gollum123@free.fr> wrote in message
news:48bc65a2$0$18578$426a74cc@news.free.fr...

> does it have itself as primary dns server ? You must do it if not (as it's
> the only dc)

Yes.

> Does it have more than one nic ? Is the configured one the first in the
> list (advanced menu)

One physical nic, one virtual in the form of Hamachi

> What are the software installed ? absolutely nothing more than Windows ?

Windows, Sharepoint 3.0 (since removed)

> netdiag/dcdiag are all ok ?

Yes

> Do you have the latest bios/firmware/drivers ?

Yes

> never applying windows update is not a solution. We must find & fix the
> true problem.

I am currently in the process of doing a repair/installation of Server 2003.

I was considering upgrading to Server 2008, but after this I don't think I
want to take the chance.

 

[Hank Arnold (MVP)]

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

Wowbagger wrote:
> After what is approaching 72 hours the machine still has not logged in. At
> the moment it is displaying "Loading power profile".
>
>

Pure stab in the dark, but are you using UPS software to manage a soft
power down on loss of main power? There have been reports a while ago
about a version of UPS software that caused no end of problems.

--

Regards,
Hank Arnold
Microsoft MVP
Windows Server - Directory Services

 

[Wowbagger]

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

> Pure stab in the dark, but are you using UPS software to manage a soft
> power down on loss of main power? There have been reports a while ago
> about a version of UPS software that caused no end of problems.

That was the APC PowerChute issue - doesn't apply in this case.

I had it up and running last night but this morning the server is showing
signs of being flaky again. I was -really- hoping to avoid reformatting and
installing from scratch but it is looking like there isn't any way around
it. The problems all seemed to start after applying SP2 - I'll never make
that mistake again.

 

[Massimo]

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

"Wowbagger" <privacy, please> ha scritto nel messaggio
news:eFhLA5PDJHA.4696@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>> Pure stab in the dark, but are you using UPS software to manage a soft
>> power down on loss of main power? There have been reports a while ago
>> about a version of UPS software that caused no end of problems.
>
> That was the APC PowerChute issue - doesn't apply in this case.
>
> I had it up and running last night but this morning the server is showing
> signs of being flaky again. I was -really- hoping to avoid reformatting
> and installing from scratch but it is looking like there isn't any way
> around it. The problems all seemed to start after applying SP2 - I'll
> never make that mistake again.

Have you tried starting it up with the network cable disconnected?
Sometimes this can do wonders; witnessed it today with a XP machine that was
waiting for ever just like your server.

By the way, a service pack is really unlike to be the source of this
problem; it must lie somewhere else.


Massimo

 

[Wowbagger]

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

Re: Approaching 72 hours, login still not complete

"Massimo" <barone@mclink.it> wrote in message
news:eNVvfpTDJHA.5656@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

> By the way, a service pack is really unlike to be the source of this
> problem; it must lie somewhere else.

The last change to the server was the installation of SP2. I speculate that
it might have broken something with the network (Hamachi issue maybe?)
because almost all of the errors and hangs seem to be directly related to
networking. Booting into safe mode with networking support caused a hang,
but after booting into safe mode without networking support and
deleting/disabling all of the network adapters I was able to boot into the
system as normal.

I tried to reinstall the TCP/IP stack but the instructions provided don't
work - even after editing the ini file I still don't have the option to
remove the TCP/IP stack and reload.