dual booting problems with nt 4.0 server/w2k server

  • Thread starter Thread starter L.Jacobson
  • Start date Start date
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L.Jacobson

I have NT Server and Windows 2000 Server installed on the same machine with, up to this time, no problems booting between the two OS's. I recentley installed a 2 port KVM switch to manage a second machine running NT 4.0 Workstation. After installing the switch, I rebooted both machines with no problems. After logging on to the Server install machine and choosing NT Server the first time I had no problem, but shortly after logging in the machine rebooted itself. After this reboot, the problem started. Now when I Select NT Server I get the message:"Windows 2000 could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.ced"
The strange thing is that I can load Windows 2000 but not NT. After searching the Knowledge Base, the only article I found was Q269075. But the information was specific to Windows 2000.
My question is this: Should I use the win2k fix which involves the recovery console and a repair install of Windows 2000 or should I attempt a repair install of NT?
I hesitate to use the Windows 2000 fix for fear that the whole system will become unbootable.
Thanks for any help that anyone has to offer.
L.Jacobson
 
When you boot Windows 2000 have a look at the size of the system hive of
Windows NT4
%windir%\system32\config\system

This article may help.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=269075

I think you're getting this win2000'ish error because the boot sector was
replaced when you installed Windows 2000

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

:
I have NT Server and Windows 2000 Server installed on the same machine
with, up to this time, no problems booting between the two OS's. I recentley
installed a 2 port KVM switch to manage a second machine running NT 4.0
Workstation. After installing the switch, I rebooted both machines with no
problems. After logging on to the Server install machine and choosing NT
Server the first time I had no problem, but shortly after logging in the
machine rebooted itself. After this reboot, the problem started. Now when I
Select NT Server I get the message:"Windows 2000 could not start because the
following file is missing or corrupt:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.ced"
The strange thing is that I can load Windows 2000 but not NT. After
searching the Knowledge Base, the only article I found was Q269075. But the
information was specific to Windows 2000.
My question is this: Should I use the win2k fix which involves the recovery
console and a repair install of Windows 2000 or should I attempt a repair
install of NT?
I hesitate to use the Windows 2000 fix for fear that the whole system will
become unbootable.
Thanks for any help that anyone has to offer.
L.Jacobson
 
Dave:
There is a difference in the size in the system hives.nt = 1.46MB, 2000 = 2.46MB. I had already checked the article you referenced, but as I said this seems to be win2k specific(maybe I'm wrong) and I was concerned if I used the fix in the article I might not be able to boot into any OS. What you said about 2000 replacing the boot sector makes sense but what could have caused this error since I have had no problem with this setup for almost 2 years. The only change was the KVM switch, no software. Thanks for your response.
L.Jacobson
 
If Windows 2000 boots and operates then don't try to fix it. There's nothing
wrong with it. Can you post the partition details and the contents of
boot.ini

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

:
Dave:
There is a difference in the size in the system hives.nt = 1.46MB, 2000 =
2.46MB. I had already checked the article you referenced, but as I said this
seems to be win2k specific(maybe I'm wrong) and I was concerned if I used
the fix in the article I might not be able to boot into any OS. What you
said about 2000 replacing the boot sector makes sense but what could have
caused this error since I have had no problem with this setup for almost 2
years. The only change was the KVM switch, no software. Thanks for your
response.
L.Jacobson
 
Did you try booting vga mode? Probably wont make any difference. boot.ini
looks correct. I don't think it would be possible to upgrade a damaged OS. I
really wouldn't want to try anyway. Some possibly hidden corruption may end
up within your install.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]

:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Server Version 4.00"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server"
/fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows NT Server Version 4.00
[VGA mode]" /basevideo /sos

system has 2 drives; drive 0 contains 2gb system partition formated ntfs
(drive C)
drive 1 contains 2gb boot partition formated
fat (drive F)
Do you think I could do an upgrade install on the Nt installation on Drive C
? At that point, hopefully I can retain my app settings and account
profiles and make the machine pure 2000. I could then use disk
administration to format the other partitions and the other drive that has
the current install of 2000. What do you think?

Thanks,
L.Jacobson
 
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