HELP! New 6 client network and server

[DrunkIrishman]

ok i'm at the customers office right now, i'm used to Windows 2000 server but windows 2003 server seems about the same except for slight differences. Anyway.

Heres my problem, when i set up the dell server the first time i set up the server different then i plan on doing now, so it seemed like un installing active directory by running DC Promo. It froze while un installing active directory so i had to unplug the computer to shut it down, i don't like doing that but its new and thats the only time i've done it so i figured once won't hurt. Now i go to run DC promo it goes to set up a server, when it asks for the full DNS name it freezes. What do i do?? Oh, also i tried just re installing windows but it claimed i had no hard drive yet the server boots up fine besides DC Promo not working. Wich is slightly needed for a SERVER.


What do i do?? HELP!!!

 

[58sniper]

No idea. When you reboot it, what's the event logs say?

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[ShackDaddy]

Do you have Windows Small Business Server 2003? If so, it makes sense that it had trouble doing a DCPROMO after it was set up. If I were you, I'd get out the media and set it up from scratch, using OpenManage disks for the initial bootup. Once you hit the wizards, try and configure everything using the wizards, even if you think you could do it more quickly/accurately with the regular server interface. The truth is, you can't. SBS is like that.

ShackDaddy
Shackelford Consulting

 

[markdmac]

Like ShackDaddy I'm wondering if you have posted in the right forum or not. Are you using SBS? If so then I would suggest a fresh installation. Be aware that with SBS you need to use the Wizards. Don't deviate from them during setup. If you are unfamiliar with SBS setup then I would advise you read about that or bring in a consultant that specializes in SBS.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

Check out my scripting solutions at

http://www.thespidersparlor.com/vbscript

Work SMARTER not HARDER. The Spider's Parlor's Admin Script Pack is a collection of Administrative scripts designed to make IT Administration easier! Save time, get more work done, get the Admin Script Pack.

 

[DrunkIrishman]

yeah its windows SBS 2003 server, i'm doing it from scratch i'm used to windows 2000 servers still and doing things without the wizards.

 

[ShackDaddy]

Yep, the wizards mesh a bunch of things together that make up for the fact that SBS does stuff that normally you aren't supposed to do on a regular server, like run Exchange on a DC and a few other things. If you treat it like a regular server, you then get to reap the consequences, since it's the wizards that run scripts behind the scenes to fix things that would otherwise be broken.

Probably the best thing for you to do at this point is to look at that Task List at the top of the Server Manager tree and run all applicable wizards. Then notice that there are wizards for other things like creating/provisioning user accounts, setting up backup, etc.

ShackDaddy
Shackelford Consulting

 

[DrunkIrishman]

yeah i've been sitting here reinstalling windows SBS 2003 server since 11:30 its 1:30 right now and whats taking up half my time is exchange server that it MAKES you install that i wouldn't even run on this server since its the primary and ONLY DC. i hate you microsoft.

 

[ShackDaddy]

On SBS, it's totally kosher to run Exchange, and there's no terrific reason not to run it. If you don't want to use it, just ignore it, but it still makes a great place for you to centrally store and backup user mail data, even if you insist on using some off-site SMTP or IMAP server for your real mail server. Clients can be configured to use Exchange for storing mail but still use an external server for outbound and inbound.

ShackDaddy
Shackelford Consulting

 

[markdmac]

i hate you microsoft.

Just want to point out that there are Microsoft employees like myself providing free support to the community and we don't really appreciate seeing this kind of dribble.

 

[58sniper]

Just want to point out that there are Microsoft employees like myself providing free support to the community and we don't really appreciate seeing this kind of dribble.

And there are those like myself who work for Microsoft Partners that also derive their income supporting Microsoft products. And both us (partners) and the Microsoft employees like Mark go out of our way to assist people who need assistance.

Failing to research the best solution for your environment, then attempting to do things other than they way they were designed, clearly indicates you were not prepared for this installation.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
Want to know how email works? Read for yourself -

http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc2821.txt

 

[PHV]

Bottom line: for SBS, just follow the wizards, period.

 

[DrunkIrishman]

i think its kind of childish to get offended by me saying i hate you microsoft, obviously network issues is what gives me a job, but the fact is if apple won the MARKETING war, and bill didn't steal steve's jobes(sp?) idea to begin with, we'd all have more stable networks. like it or not its true. But regardless i do appreciate the help but if that comment offends you maybe you need to get a girlfriend outside of the computer. just a thought

 

[ShackDaddy]

You can say what you want. There are definitely reasons to be frustrated, especially since there's so much information that it's very easy to be ignorant of helpful facts. That's what we're all here on account of. I wish I could just download information in my sleep sometimes. I'll name my invention SomaTrain.

Had any luck wizarding?

ShackDaddy
Shackelford Consulting

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Yeah everythings running great now thanks for all the help guys. Thanks for the good advice shackdaddy made a huge difference.