Windows Server 2003 - Locking Up

[garymcooper]

We have (1) server running Windows Server 2003. It has been extremely reliable up until the past month. The system has locked up about 3-4 times over the past month. When in this condition it takes holding power switch until unit shuts down then reboot. There are many messages in event viewer but no expert here to figure what is causing the issue. Is there somewhat easy way to diagnose issue OR is there a reliable, recommended online service that could dial in to review issues and provide some fix? Any help would be appreciated. The Dell server is about 6 years old.

Thank you,

 

[goombawaho]

It's time to find a local computer guru if you don't have anyone qualified in-house. I wouldn't let anyone connect remotely without really knowing that they are trustworthy and establishing a relationship with them first. It's really a hands on task and it's not for the inexperienced person to be fooling with BECAUSE it's your server. Data loss or a server that won't even boot is a possibility.

You need to have the following done and not necessarily in this order:
Test memory
Test hard drive (check RAID health if you have RAID)
Update drivers
Apply windows updates
Look for malware
Look at the event viewer

"Living tomorrow is everyone's sorrow.
Modern man's daydreams have turned into nightmares.

 

[technome]

To add...

Agree, this is best done by an experienced tech on site, doing some/all of the following.

Check for internal temperatures, removed dust. Reseat ALL internal/external cables with server powered off (plug removed)

"(check RAID health if you have RAID)" Check your raid logs, particularly in regards to battery/cache memory issues

Does it just lockup or do services/programs slow or stop before the lockup, such as DNS ,slow logon, or slow desktop issues appear before the lockup

Very possibly something is absorbing resources...
Open Task Manager, "Processes".....
Short on memory use, monitor for ever increasing memory use by any program/service.
Short on Handles, monitor ever increasing number of handles.

As to Malware, scan with multiple scanners (McAfee, Kasperski, etc) not just one. You want to make sure you run a couple Rootkit scanners.

Depending on the CPU, download util to test CPU

Run chkdsk /f, not likely to cause an issue like this, but good to run
Run SFC /scannow

If this server is an older model, check motherboard for leaking/bulging capacitors.


........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

"Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."
Popular Mechanics, 1949