Guest jeffuk123 Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Hello to all. Basically, I have a client who has Windows Server 2003 installed and Exchange 2003. Today the client informed me she attempted to upgrade a database called CASETRACK on the server, as the data is on the server and has been working fine. She apparently has tested it on a workstation and it run fine. She called to say that they cannot get any emails. I managed to log in to the server remotely and cannot access any of the administrative tools. The error keeps saying "cannot access c:windows\system32\xxx.msc" (where xxxx is the name of the mmc) There is now no 'run' option from the start menu. I cannot open server management. Exchange has completely disappeared. There is no 'my computer' icon etc, etc. However, I can see the shared data files are still there within windows explorer on the c drive but most other programs are missing. When I try to select 'all programs' from the start menu nothing shows up. I know that this CASETRACK software uses SQL. Somewhere it looks like this has 'knackered' everything up. Any suggestions would be truly grateful as like I said I cannot access services.msc or eventviewer either. Many kind regards to all for any urgent assistance, Jeff
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: URGENT - Server 2003 lost almost everything "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:C3E7CE6E-8613-45D7-BBF2-268200E8BE80@microsoft.com... > Hello to all. > > Basically, I have a client who has Windows Server 2003 installed and > Exchange 2003. > > Today the client informed me she attempted to upgrade a database called > CASETRACK on the server, as the data is on the server and has been working > fine. She apparently has tested it on a workstation and it run fine. > > She called to say that they cannot get any emails. > > I managed to log in to the server remotely and cannot access any of the > administrative tools. The error keeps saying "cannot access > c:windows\system32\xxx.msc" (where xxxx is the name of the mmc) > > There is now no 'run' option from the start menu. I cannot open server > management. Exchange has completely disappeared. There is no 'my computer' > icon etc, etc. > > However, I can see the shared data files are still there within windows > explorer on the c drive but most other programs are missing. When I try to > select 'all programs' from the start menu nothing shows up. > > I know that this CASETRACK software uses SQL. > > Somewhere it looks like this has 'knackered' everything up. > > Any suggestions would be truly grateful as like I said I cannot access > services.msc or eventviewer either. > > Many kind regards to all for any urgent assistance, > > Jeff > I would back up the current registry, then restore the System registry file from the most recent backup.
Guest jeffuk123 Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: URGENT - Server 2003 lost almost everything Many thanks for your prompt reply. However the problem seems to be that because the services.msc cannot be accessed, the removable storage manager is not functioning, therefore it is unable to access the tape drive in order to restore the system registry file from the most recent backup!!! Kind regards, Jeff "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:C3E7CE6E-8613-45D7-BBF2-268200E8BE80@microsoft.com... > > Hello to all. > > > > Basically, I have a client who has Windows Server 2003 installed and > > Exchange 2003. > > > > Today the client informed me she attempted to upgrade a database called > > CASETRACK on the server, as the data is on the server and has been working > > fine. She apparently has tested it on a workstation and it run fine. > > > > She called to say that they cannot get any emails. > > > > I managed to log in to the server remotely and cannot access any of the > > administrative tools. The error keeps saying "cannot access > > c:windows\system32\xxx.msc" (where xxxx is the name of the mmc) > > > > There is now no 'run' option from the start menu. I cannot open server > > management. Exchange has completely disappeared. There is no 'my computer' > > icon etc, etc. > > > > However, I can see the shared data files are still there within windows > > explorer on the c drive but most other programs are missing. When I try to > > select 'all programs' from the start menu nothing shows up. > > > > I know that this CASETRACK software uses SQL. > > > > Somewhere it looks like this has 'knackered' everything up. > > > > Any suggestions would be truly grateful as like I said I cannot access > > services.msc or eventviewer either. > > > > Many kind regards to all for any urgent assistance, > > > > Jeff > > > > I would back up the current registry, then restore the System > registry file from the most recent backup. > > >
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: URGENT - Server 2003 lost almost everything Have a look in the \Windows\System32\config folder. Sometimes there is a recent "System.alt" file there of much the same size as the "System" file. Same thing in \Windows\Repair. If this is not the case then you have to load a clean version of your server on some other machine, then restore the System State (and therefore the System registry) to a different location. It is because of problems like these that I back up my registry files independently. I can then restore them within a matter of minutes, even if Windows is inaccessible. "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:B8FDF83D-9AC3-4C85-91DF-7F1EA4BC0EEF@microsoft.com... > Many thanks for your prompt reply. > > However the problem seems to be that because the services.msc cannot be > accessed, the removable storage manager is not functioning, therefore it > is > unable to access the tape drive in order to restore the system registry > file > from the most recent backup!!! > > Kind regards, > Jeff > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > >> >> "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:C3E7CE6E-8613-45D7-BBF2-268200E8BE80@microsoft.com... >> > Hello to all. >> > >> > Basically, I have a client who has Windows Server 2003 installed and >> > Exchange 2003. >> > >> > Today the client informed me she attempted to upgrade a database called >> > CASETRACK on the server, as the data is on the server and has been >> > working >> > fine. She apparently has tested it on a workstation and it run fine. >> > >> > She called to say that they cannot get any emails. >> > >> > I managed to log in to the server remotely and cannot access any of the >> > administrative tools. The error keeps saying "cannot access >> > c:windows\system32\xxx.msc" (where xxxx is the name of the mmc) >> > >> > There is now no 'run' option from the start menu. I cannot open server >> > management. Exchange has completely disappeared. There is no 'my >> > computer' >> > icon etc, etc. >> > >> > However, I can see the shared data files are still there within windows >> > explorer on the c drive but most other programs are missing. When I try >> > to >> > select 'all programs' from the start menu nothing shows up. >> > >> > I know that this CASETRACK software uses SQL. >> > >> > Somewhere it looks like this has 'knackered' everything up. >> > >> > Any suggestions would be truly grateful as like I said I cannot access >> > services.msc or eventviewer either. >> > >> > Many kind regards to all for any urgent assistance, >> > >> > Jeff >> > >> >> I would back up the current registry, then restore the System >> registry file from the most recent backup. >> >> >>
Guest jeffuk123 Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: URGENT - Server 2003 lost almost everything Thanks, i'll give that ago. Jeff "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > Have a look in the \Windows\System32\config folder. > Sometimes there is a recent "System.alt" file there of > much the same size as the "System" file. > > Same thing in \Windows\Repair. > > If this is not the case then you have to load a clean version > of your server on some other machine, then restore the > System State (and therefore the System registry) to a > different location. > > It is because of problems like these that I back up my > registry files independently. I can then restore them > within a matter of minutes, even if Windows is inaccessible. > > > "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:B8FDF83D-9AC3-4C85-91DF-7F1EA4BC0EEF@microsoft.com... > > Many thanks for your prompt reply. > > > > However the problem seems to be that because the services.msc cannot be > > accessed, the removable storage manager is not functioning, therefore it > > is > > unable to access the tape drive in order to restore the system registry > > file > > from the most recent backup!!! > > > > Kind regards, > > Jeff > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > > >> > >> "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> news:C3E7CE6E-8613-45D7-BBF2-268200E8BE80@microsoft.com... > >> > Hello to all. > >> > > >> > Basically, I have a client who has Windows Server 2003 installed and > >> > Exchange 2003. > >> > > >> > Today the client informed me she attempted to upgrade a database called > >> > CASETRACK on the server, as the data is on the server and has been > >> > working > >> > fine. She apparently has tested it on a workstation and it run fine. > >> > > >> > She called to say that they cannot get any emails. > >> > > >> > I managed to log in to the server remotely and cannot access any of the > >> > administrative tools. The error keeps saying "cannot access > >> > c:windows\system32\xxx.msc" (where xxxx is the name of the mmc) > >> > > >> > There is now no 'run' option from the start menu. I cannot open server > >> > management. Exchange has completely disappeared. There is no 'my > >> > computer' > >> > icon etc, etc. > >> > > >> > However, I can see the shared data files are still there within windows > >> > explorer on the c drive but most other programs are missing. When I try > >> > to > >> > select 'all programs' from the start menu nothing shows up. > >> > > >> > I know that this CASETRACK software uses SQL. > >> > > >> > Somewhere it looks like this has 'knackered' everything up. > >> > > >> > Any suggestions would be truly grateful as like I said I cannot access > >> > services.msc or eventviewer either. > >> > > >> > Many kind regards to all for any urgent assistance, > >> > > >> > Jeff > >> > > >> > >> I would back up the current registry, then restore the System > >> registry file from the most recent backup. > >> > >> > >> > > >
Guest jeffuk123 Posted October 5, 2007 Posted October 5, 2007 Re: URGENT - Server 2003 lost almost everything If I need to reinstall Windows and Exchange, and restore the Exchange database, is there anything I need to look out for when reinstalling Exchange, for example file names or anything like that? Many thanks, Jeff "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > Have a look in the \Windows\System32\config folder. > Sometimes there is a recent "System.alt" file there of > much the same size as the "System" file. > > Same thing in \Windows\Repair. > > If this is not the case then you have to load a clean version > of your server on some other machine, then restore the > System State (and therefore the System registry) to a > different location. > > It is because of problems like these that I back up my > registry files independently. I can then restore them > within a matter of minutes, even if Windows is inaccessible. > > > "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:B8FDF83D-9AC3-4C85-91DF-7F1EA4BC0EEF@microsoft.com... > > Many thanks for your prompt reply. > > > > However the problem seems to be that because the services.msc cannot be > > accessed, the removable storage manager is not functioning, therefore it > > is > > unable to access the tape drive in order to restore the system registry > > file > > from the most recent backup!!! > > > > Kind regards, > > Jeff > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" wrote: > > > >> > >> "jeffuk123" <jeffuk123@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >> news:C3E7CE6E-8613-45D7-BBF2-268200E8BE80@microsoft.com... > >> > Hello to all. > >> > > >> > Basically, I have a client who has Windows Server 2003 installed and > >> > Exchange 2003. > >> > > >> > Today the client informed me she attempted to upgrade a database called > >> > CASETRACK on the server, as the data is on the server and has been > >> > working > >> > fine. She apparently has tested it on a workstation and it run fine. > >> > > >> > She called to say that they cannot get any emails. > >> > > >> > I managed to log in to the server remotely and cannot access any of the > >> > administrative tools. The error keeps saying "cannot access > >> > c:windows\system32\xxx.msc" (where xxxx is the name of the mmc) > >> > > >> > There is now no 'run' option from the start menu. I cannot open server > >> > management. Exchange has completely disappeared. There is no 'my > >> > computer' > >> > icon etc, etc. > >> > > >> > However, I can see the shared data files are still there within windows > >> > explorer on the c drive but most other programs are missing. When I try > >> > to > >> > select 'all programs' from the start menu nothing shows up. > >> > > >> > I know that this CASETRACK software uses SQL. > >> > > >> > Somewhere it looks like this has 'knackered' everything up. > >> > > >> > Any suggestions would be truly grateful as like I said I cannot access > >> > services.msc or eventviewer either. > >> > > >> > Many kind regards to all for any urgent assistance, > >> > > >> > Jeff > >> > > >> > >> I would back up the current registry, then restore the System > >> registry file from the most recent backup. > >> > >> > >> > > >
Recommended Posts