Odd boot failure

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blithe
  • Start date Start date
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Blithe

I am cross posting this from microsoft.public.win2000.general (12/21) since:
(1) nobody responded (2) maybe it's more relevant in this group.
So far I have learned nothing from the event except the crucial importance
of constantly creating current system backups. I would prefer to learn
more. - Thanks.

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I run a peer-to-peer network - both PCs with W2K SP4 - just so you know.
Both PCs are run thru a KVM switch so I need only one monitor, keyboard &
mouse. The arrangement was set up to provide almost instant hardware backup
and internet access in case my main PC failed. This has worked well for
several years. The only down times were usually caused by hard drive
failures. Boot failures were very rare. Usually rebooting fixes any
momentary booting stalls.

This recent boot failure seemed odd because the stall always came precisely
when W2K posted the routine notice that 'network settings were being
completed.' This notice comes just before the login requiring the user's ID
& password.

I tried all the usual paths without success to get by this stalling point -
repair, safe modes, and booting from both the W2K CD as well as the boot
hard drive. Finally, I reinstalled a fresh W2K without reformatting my NTFS
boot drive and without trying to keep the previous installation folders -
banking on getting thru with a restore of a system backup that was two week
old (& crossing my fingers). I ought to mention that DSKCHK from a safe
mode command line reported no problem with my boot drive before running the
restore.

I feel very fortunate that my restore from a two week old backup has seemed
to put me back in good shape - no worse off except for the frustration and a
few hours lost.

QUESTION: Anyone have a similar experience &/or knowledge of what might
have been the cause of this particular boot stall?

Thanks - Blithe
 
Hello Blithe,

Are there any errors in your event viewer from the crashing machine?

Best regards

myweb
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
 
I try to make constant reviews of my Event Viewer a habit. However, if
there were anything still recorded of interest after restoring my system,
nothing relevant was listed. (Interestingly enough, many documents created
in the two week period between my last backup, the clean reinstall, and the
system restore option I chose, that did not preserve the original
directories, were not destroyed. I thought all files that were created in
that two week period would cetainly have been destroyed. What a pleasant
surprise!) However, I'll do a general log file search again & check to see
if any old recorded events are still available. Thanks.
 
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