Server reboots itself

[reynolwi]

I just noticed this but the exchange server has now decided to randomly start rebooting itself and when it starts to boot back up it blue screens saying "unmountable boot volume". it blue screens for a while and then it boots up normally like nothing ever happened. I had no idea it had been doing this and i noticed it because i noticed that the dell indicator lights on the front where changing colors.

What could be causing this? Im thinking maybe the motherboard may be going out or possibly the hdd? The bad thing is i just took the backup software off because im replacing it with something else and i dont think i have a decent backup.

Wm. Reynolds
RRWDS | TxPSS

http://www.rrwds.com

http://www.txpubsafety.com

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Network Error:
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[reynolwi]

i tried to do a system repair using the Windows 2003 server cd it doesnt give me that option. It shows the partitions on the server and for the C: partition it says "Unknown" where the File System would be. Is there any way to fix this?

I have another motherboard on the way. I just ordered it this morning. I have never had to do the disaster recovery option on an exchange server. The exchange stores and logs are on a seperate drive so im sure i can just put those back online once i get the server back up even if i do the disasterrecovery option right?

Wm. Reynolds
RRWDS | TxPSS

http://www.rrwds.com

http://www.txpubsafety.com

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Network Error:
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[wahnula]

The bad thing is i just took the backup software off because im replacing it with something else and i dont think i have a decent backup.

This is critical. Run whatever backup program you can get your hands on including NTBackup. If nothing else unmount the Exchange store and back it up to another drive.

Right-click My Computer==>Properties==>Advanced==>Startup and Recovery==>Settings==>Under "System failure" make sure "Write an event to the system log" is checked, and un-check "Automatically Restart" to freeze the blue screen so you can get an error number and fault string. Then write the series of numbers/letters down and Google search or use EventID.net as well as posting the wording and string.

My preliminary research points to a damaged file system and/or hard drive, so get thyself a good backup ASAP!!!

Post back if you have the error details, check the event log.



Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[wahnula]

Glad to hear the stores are on another drive. Worst case you will have to run ESEUTIL and replay the log files into Exchange to get back up & running.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[reynolwi]

it has completely failed and will not come back up. Apperantly i guess the system volume got corrupted and now the server wont come back up. It gets to the windows server logo with the scroll bar and then goes to blue screen of death saying unmountable boot volume. I now have no way of getting a backup of the system. How do i go about doing disaster recovery using exchange files that were just online? Im hopeing that nothing happened to the exchange stores and logs, but i cant find any information as to how to use basically "live" stores to put back online.

Wm. Reynolds
RRWDS | TxPSS

http://www.rrwds.com

http://www.txpubsafety.com

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Network Error:
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[wahnula]

Just to be certain, have you tried booting into Safe Mode and/or Last Known Good Configuration? Have you run chkdsk C: /r from the Recovery Console?

An Exchange guru will have to help you with the recovery, I'm more a hardware troubleshooter. Hopefully one of the MVP's like 58sniper or Zelandkh will jump in to answer your questions.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[reynolwi]

Ok im apperantly going to have to do a complete rebuild. I ran CHKDSK C: /P /R and it stopped at 56% and said that there were one or more unrecoverable problems. So im guessing i have to figure out how and where i had exchange installed so that i can attempt to put it back exactly using disaster recovery and then figure out how to get the stores back online since i dont have a backup to restore them that way. Does anyone know how to remount the old stores without having a backup to restore from????

Then... im going to look into building a second exchange server for redundancy? How easy can that be done?

Wm. Reynolds
RRWDS | TxPSS

http://www.rrwds.com

http://www.txpubsafety.com

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Network Error:
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[wahnula]

Time to call a pro. I would install the new hard drive and rebuild the server, but leave the Exchange rebuilding to a messaging MCSE or equivalent.

There are people here that know how to do all of what you ask, but getting it across in a forum...well that's a different critter. Plus this is not the time to learn about Exchange. You will not regret spending the $$$ on a pro, it will be worth it if you value what's in the Store. And your sanity.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[reynolwi]

Yea apperantly i missed the memo they stuck on my desk thurs night... i thought that i had removed the backup software but one of my support staff thought he could fix a problem and removed it himself a month ago and never had told anyone. Im trying to find an MCSE in town i can talk to. I know somebody up at the university that im hopeing can help, but ive also made a new post here hopeing one of those guys might post a comment on it.

Ive got the new harddrive here and the motherboard will be here monday.

Wm. Reynolds
Premise Communications
Texas Public Safety Solutions

http://www.rrwds.com

http://www.txpubsafety.com

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[wahnula]

Great. A good tech should be able to get another machine, anything, up & running as an emergency mailserver in the meantime. I couldn't help but go to the links below your name and noticed the OWA was out on both sites...depending on the number of people dependent on your email system you may want to go this way (temp. server). Tech folks are used to working weekends and the little extra $$$ will be save you hours of frustration.

No lecturing here about the critical nature of backups, and checking the system log regularly for issues...you will NEVER make this mistake again, this is called learning the hard way.

As for future redundancy, there are many options, some more expensive than others. This is a dialog to get into once you've left "panic" mode. You can start by using a RAID 1 array (if the server supports it) for the Exchange server OS. I sincerely wish you the best...hang in there!

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[reynolwi]

i am apperantly more of a genius than i thought i was. I got the server back online without using any backups. the old mailbox and public folder stores are up and mounted and exchange is online.

Now i just have to figure out why i cant get RPC to enable, SSL set back up, and get this stupid default SMTP virtual server to start so that mail can be delivered.

Wm. Reynolds
Premise Communications
Texas Public Safety Solutions

http://www.rrwds.com

http://www.txpubsafety.com

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Network Error:
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[wahnula]

Glad to hear you got it (mostly) sorted out.

Tony

Users helping Users...