Be sure to "enable" the "enable SATA RAID" selection in the BIOS of new IBM servers prior to loading any software. If not, the server will only use one hard drive and mirroring will not be available. In order to recover from not enabling RAID in the BIOS, the server has to be completely wiped and reloaded starting from RAID configuration.

Again, neither the ServeRAID Manager, nor IBM ServerGuide will enable RAID automatically.

If this happens to you, my recommendation is to blow away the server and reload it properly. I did not have this information and was finished with loading all software on the new server before discovering the mirror had not been established. In an attempt to save my config, I tried imaging the server with Ghost. The imaging process went smoothly, but the server failed to boot. After locating the proper RAID driver and running a repair install of Windows Server 2003, the following issues appeared:

Windows Setup
type: Information

Windows Setup cannot run under Safemode.  Setup 
will restart now.


===   ===   ===   ===   ===   ===   ===   

lsass.exe - System Error
type: Red X

Security Accounts Manager initialization failed 
because of the following error:  Directory 
Service cannot start.  Error Status: 0xc00002e1.  
Please click OK to shutdown the system.  You can 
use the recovery console to diagnose the system 
further.

===   ===   ===   ===   ===   ===   ===   

Microsoft KB article 258062 had some nice suggestions, but the server just didn't want to cooperate. (Q258062) "Directory Services cannot start" error message when you start your Windows-based or SBS-based domain controller

I may have had better luck using NTbackup with System State option enabled, but for now, we're already engaged in a complete reload.

 

 

( IBM EServer xSeries 226 Serial ATA )

Adware infected systems running Windows 2000 or Windows XP often have their Autoexec.NT file deleted from the System32 folder. A simple fix is to copy the file from Repair to System32 as follows:

• Click Start and then Run
• Type CMD and press Enter
• Type CD\Windows\System32 or CD\WinNT\System32 and press Enter (most Win2K systems use Winnt, but some do not)
• Type Copy ..\Repair\Autoexec.NT and press Enter (a messaging stating 1 File Copied should appear)

Test running your application to confirm this operation is successful.

Config.NT can be replaced the same way if it is missing or corrupt and unusable

 

 

( Win2K WinXP )

System goes through POST, but instead of starting Win2K, only a flashing cursor appears. Suspect corrupt boot loader. Boot with Windows 98 diskette image on my utility CD. File system just happens to be Fat32! Just for kicks, run Winnt.exe to see what it will do. Allow to run for a few seconds, but abort (Ctl-Alt-Del) during file copy bar graph screen. System comes up with OS selection list! Manually select top item (Windows 2000 Professional) and boot system successfully.

Apparently, a system recovery was begun, but failed at some point. The Boot.ini file had some strange entries:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=50
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
C:\ = "Previous Operating System on C:"
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT = "Windows 2000 Installation/Upgrade"

After correcting, the file looks like this:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=3
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

These Microsoft documents may have helped if I hadn't accidentally gotten it to work:
How to troubleshoot the "NTLDR Is Missing" error message in Windows 2000
How To Create a Boot Disk for an NTFS or FAT Partition in Windows

 

 

( Win2K Boot Loader Boot.ini Pro Professional )

When a DVD begins to crack and show signs of wear, the process of creating a backup disk can be quite a challenge.

DVD Shrink v3.2.0.15 was supposed to to the trick, but it didn't seem to work that well. After much frustration, discover these instructions while looking for Overlapped I/O operation in progress which was probably the result of the hard drive filling up. It only had couple gig free and DVD's can hold 4.7GB. Add extra hard drive and install DVD Decrypter, which automatically selects the blank drive for temporary storage! Nero came bundled with the burner and is quite handy for burning the files from DVD Decrypter. Good luck ~!

 

 

( )

This program works on old Windows 98. It crashes if you push it, but my customer is thrilled to have some old accounting files back !

PC Inspector File Recovery - alternate download link

 

 

( )

Just received this from a colleague:

=== === === === === === ===
Guys,

I finally resolved my problem with my Microsoft VPN client not working. I thought I would share since this was kinda tough to find.

I have both Cisco and Microsoft VPN clients installed. The problem was my that while my Cisco VPN was working fine, my MS VPN would connect to the server and then hang during the authenticating user name and password phase. Eventually reporting that it could not connect. This held true for all of my MS VPN connections. Today I resolved to find and fix it so I rooted through the event viewer looking for error messages and then researched them on the NET.

Turns out a program called TrueVector was failing to load because a file was missing. Searching on the NET revealed that this TrueVector service was part of ZoneAlarm and ... the Cisco VPN client.

On a whim, I uninstalled my Cisco client and reinstalled, and both are now working again !

EO
=== === === === === === ===

 

 

( )

Windows Server 2003 with Veritas Backup Exec reporting the following error:

Test Backup -- The job failed with the following error: When accessing a new tape
 of a multivolume partition, the current block size is incorrect.

Veritas support recommends this solution, but I have found a little more complicated work-around:

• Close BackupExec
• Stop BackupExec services
• Open NTbackup
• Insert tape and perform a small test backup
• Restart BackupExec services
• Perform a Quick Erase on the tape
• Perform a small test backup using BackupExec

I like to use a small batch file with the following commands to stop and then restart the services (listed in a text file in the same directory).

FOR /F "eol=; tokens=* delims=@" %%i in (besvc.txt) do net stop "%%i"
pause
FOR /F "eol=; tokens=* delims=@" %%i in (besvc.txt) do net start "%%i"

The text file should have the exact name of the services to control.

Backup Exec Job Engine
Backup Exec Server
Backup Exec Agent Browser
Backup Exec Device & Media Service
Backup Exec Remote Agent for Windows Servers

 

 

( Veritas BackupExec Win2K3 Win2003 )

Check the box for "My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication" and tick the button for "Use same settings as my incoming mail server"

 

 

( Microsoft email )

Don't waste time trying to get the client to work before trying this fix !

Summary:

• Right click your access rule under firewall settings
• Choose Configure FTP
• Uncheck Read Only & Click OK

 

 

( Microsoft Proxy passive active ftp.exe 550 access is denied )

Watch your Visa credit card bill for an item from "Pluto Data, LTD." for $29.99

Apparently, someone has hacked Visa and is randomly adding these charges. Amounts for $19.99 and $39.99 have also been reported. The company phone number just rings to voicemail. Good luck !

MSN article

broadband news

search Google for more info

Google news search

 

 

( 29.99 888-323-8955 )

currently, this item has no fix :(

Existing pier to pier network of Windows XP Pro stations. Add Windows Server 2003 and set up as file server with active directory domain. Trouble appears in the form of intermittent network disconnections. Changed port on switch, NIC in server and patch cable. Server never seems to drop from network. Can run a continuous ping to it just fine.

This guy has the same trouble.

tried the following command, but no good:
net config server /autodisconnect:-1

 

 

( Win2k3 drives disconnecting )