Why did SBS2k3 take SO long to reboot after NIC install? 1

[Zamuk]

I've got a SBS3k3 running on a built server. Soyo motherboard, USRobotics NIC, two SATA HDs, etc. Yeah, built by a reputable "mom & pop" store here where I live.

The server, for the past two years has been doing great until now when there appears to be a problem with outgoing mail. Event logs state that there maybe something up with the NIC.... so, I go out and buy a new NIC (D-LINK).

Disabled the old NIC, brought the server down, installed the new NIC and turned the server back on. However, now the server is at the "Please Wait..." screen and the "Applying computer settings" is being stated. The status bar is running and every now and then I can hear the HDs whiring.

It's been about an hour now and still no log on screen I hard powered the server off and replaced the new NIC with the old NIC. I'm now nearing another hour of boot up in the exact same location as stated above: "Applying computer settings..."

OMG. The computer went to a sleep mode screen. when I moved the mouse, POOF, there was my log on screen.

Why did it take so long to come back up? Was there a step I need to take, a configuration that I needed to do in order to swap out NIC?

I'm not ashamed to say it. I just about pissed my pants thinking that I've crashed a system simply because I needed to change out a NIC. :+/


Zam

 

[eraH]

Not having done it myself, this is the order I would do it.

Shutdown the server, add in the new card and start Windows up.

Take note of your IP settings.

Disabled the old card while Windows was running.

Changed IP settings of new card to what the settings were on the old card and then restarted the server.

Check through your event logs. They must of had some usefull information on why the bootup was taking so long.

 

[Zamuk]

yeah, that's what I did except I disabled the first card before shutting down.

Weird, I guess. Thank GAWD I didn't panic and was patient those 2 hours to actually get back into the server.

thanks for the reply.