Network-Server- Help

[David Whatley]

OK Guys, I made the brag to our IT guys that if anyone could figure this one out quickly ya'll could, so dont let me down
Here is our issue:

On a Dell PowerEdge 2850, running Windows 2003 Server Standard addition, with service packs applied, running RAID; boot up sequence stops with the message: NTLDR is missing. Press 'Ctrl+Alt+Del' to restart

Googling this, points to NTLDR being a core OS file. What's worked for me in the past with this type of thing, is to boot from the OS CD and do an 'R'
Repair the OS, and then copying the missing files or "complained about"
file(s) to their correct folders. Subsequently, rebooting is then normally the end of the issue.

Our current problem is that booting from the OS CD is not working. The prompt "Press any key to boot from CD" comes up, and then any key results in a "blank screen". A blank screen with no messages, and also for which
Ctrl+Alt+Del has no effect. Waiting for 30 minutes (at the blank
Ctrl+Alt+screen) or
more results in nothing different.

- I have confirmed that the same CD will boot on other generic machines also running raid hardware. They were 2000 and Vista however, and not our Dell PowerEdge servers
- We have tried this "OS Repair" on Zeus's twin sibling (Dell PowerEdge 2850 Server Apollo), with Zeus's drives, and have had the same failed results, which is now up and running now, with no issues

So, what are we missing here guys?

[photosteve]

Looks like BIOS is hosed by the article I read .

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816793



PhotoSteve

[tc95]

I the only thing I can think of...you might try one of these things...

1st Ram maybe you have a piece that went bad and is causing all the issues..
2nd Bad sector on HD (doubt this since it is rare...I have had a few myself..) just pull out one HD at a time to see if it boots..
3rd Most likely you have a bad CD drive with the Ram these would be the two easiest things to look at...
4th Bad motherboard or Power-supply...(out of the two I would think power-supply)...when these go out just a little they can cause a sorts of crazy issues...

I do not think you have a software issue...This smells more like a hardware problem....

I would do 1 and 3 then 2 then if it is still not responsive do 4 changing out the power-supply....and last but not least get dell to replace the motherboard...

Hope this helps..

Steve's looks like the winner...

[David Whatley]

We know that we have 2 issues, one software/bios related. The issue is why the heck cant we boot form a CD. In order to fix the issue, we have to be able to get the silly thing to boot, and when we are propmpted to "press any key" to boot from CD, then we get NADA. 2 power edge servers,do the same thing. Only one server is having an issue, but none of the 3 will boot to the CD when we do the same process. <scratching head>

[crazeazn]

yank the cmos battery from the motherboards. disconnect power for about 2 minutes and let the caps flush out power. then try again with ur boot cd. if not ur bios is hosed.

[crazeazn]

u should still be able to post w.o hard drive. but u have to have ram installed. so try that in some configuration after trying the above.

[tc95]

I would concur with John, I have a few questions....are your servers on battery backup..?? IFso/IF not what are they plugged into (type) and how old are they...and does each server have its own...???

[David Whatley]

John, your the man, Removing the battery and power solved the CD issue. We lost our RAID configuration/drivers, but we are making progress.
DW

[adirty1]

I would flash that bios before I stated over again. It really sounds like a bios issue or as stated above it could be a drive. How do you have your OS installed? Is the OS installed on a separate drive ,mirrored I would hope, and then your raid just for data? Is raid a perc or is it software?

[Zylone]

If you have it to the point of being able to POST (past BIOS) and can access the BIOS. Before anything else, I would also check to make sure you are running the latest BIOS. NTLDR is the "NT Loader" basically what loads the OS. This can typically be fixed using the install CD, yet if your OS is installed on the raid array as well, and the array is degraded, that might not work so well if at all.

[David Whatley]

Thaks for everyones help. Things went from looking up, to going to hell in a hand basket. After getting a boot to CD, adn into the recovery panel, it looks like the RAID controller had gone bad and screwed the data on all 4 drives. Or at least that is the opinion of our guys. So, we are now rebuilding and reinstalling the OS and SQL.
Damn, Damn, Damn
DW

[EyeBurn]

David, pm me your phone number.
I run the IT dept for Scarab (litigation support company based in Houston).
I'll call you with a couple of my guys in the room to help out.

-Ben
PS. disregard, I just finished the thread and it sounds like you're all fixed up.

[David Whatley]

Ben, thanks for the offer, it was much appericated. Its the thought that counts. Now to make sure this NEVER happens again.
DW

[TimmyTheTag]

Your RAID arrays/disc should be fine. That's the purpose of a RAID setup. Email me at dcordell@coaxial.com and we can get in touch by phone.

Dave

[Zylone]

What level of raid was it running? Just curious