Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures
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@momurda said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
@scottalanmiller
I have used vmware converter on stubborn p2v, then exported from esxi to ova and imported to XS.yeah this is the process I've read about over and over - sadly I don't have enough storage on my current ESXi host to accommodate a conversion there.
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Have you tried doing the same sort of process you did with your 2k8 server the other day? Are you able to load the registry at all?
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@Dashrender said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
I found a thread that mentioned that the user couldn't get a P2V to work in XS until they fully expanded the thin provisioned disk, then restored the image would boot.
I've made a copy of the boot drive and am using dd to expand the drive and will try to restore.
dd if=/dev/zero of=filename bs=$((1024*1024)) count=$((10*1024))This will create a 10 GB file.
OK I filled the disk 100% (I assume this fully expanded it - suppose I could get into the XS console and go looking at the VDI files to make sure it actually reports the correct size).
Restored using Clonezilla - black screen
Trying fixboot, etc.
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@momurda said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
Have you tried doing the same sort of process you did with your 2k8 server the other day? Are you able to load the registry at all?
Yes I did - I found that my 2003 server was (I think) missing one of the IDE drivers, so I put it in c:\windows\system32\drivers but that didn't help. I checked the registry, all looked well there.
The fact that it booted when using the boot sector from the Hirem CD implies to me that the boot sector in the VDI isn't properly pointing to the ntldr, so it's not booting. Somehow the boot to local media option of Hirem's CD gets past the hurtle and allows the system to boot.
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This is a failed boot with no ISO attached.
https://i.imgur.com/BEHPACs.png -
This is what a failed boot with a bootable ISO attached looks like
https://i.imgur.com/VcnoXLw.png -
Fixboot - reboot
https://i.imgur.com/x0z5FIb.png
Fixmbr - reboot
https://i.imgur.com/q7uKPry.png
bootcfg /rebuild
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Oh i just noticed. Did this physical server have more than 1 cpu or 1 cpu core? Your vm is setup as only 1 vcpu. This could be a problem.
If it only had the one cpu... a bit incredible it can read just fine but wont boot. Long shot, but do you have a win2k3 cd/dvd? can you load that and try a Repair Installation? Like the days of yore with xp, that option worked wonders for me fixing things like this.edit: server not vm
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Not sure if your solve the issue yet, but since you mentioned it boots fine using Hiren
Can you try this :
http://www.supergrubdisk.org/super-grub2-disk/
Can you boot the VM from it, if so then you can install it as boot loader.
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@momurda said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
Oh i just noticed. Did this physical vm have more than 1 cpu or 1 cpu core? Your vm is setup as only 1 vcpu. This could be a problem.
If it only had the one cpu... a bit incredible it can read just fine but wont boot. Long shot, but do you have a win2k3 cd/dvd? can you load that and try a Repair Installation? Like the days of yore with xp, that option worked wonders for me fixing things like this.My physical server is 2 socket, 2 core per
https://i.imgur.com/CuZuXrr.pngMy VM settings are:
https://i.imgur.com/jzex26w.png -
@momurda said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
Your vm is setup as only 1 vcpu.
Good catch seeing this on the BIOS screen inside the VM - but I ask WTH? I have the VM setup as a dual socket dual core system.
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@Dashrender said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
@momurda said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
Your vm is setup as only 1 vcpu.
Good catch seeing this on the BIOS screen inside the VM - but I ask WTH? I have the VM setup as a dual socket dual core system.
In thinking about this - I don't think this is the issue either though - I think it's before this.
I found this link
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/325375/how-to-troubleshoot-startup-problems-in-windows-server-2003 -
Hmmm.
Ok if you can get the thing to boot with Hiren's, what does your windows say the cpu count is when that happens?
Have you tried Safe Mode yet? -
@momurda said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
Hmmm.
Have you tried Safe Mode yet?I can't press F8 fast enough - or the system isn't reaching that part before it freezes.
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Have you tried another clean clone? Boot up the hardware, let it settle, cleanly shut it off, then re-image it.
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Also can you boot from Hirens then run msconfig and check all boot paths?
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@momurda said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
Hmmm.
Ok if you can get the thing to boot with Hiren's, what does your windows say the cpu count is when that happens?It sees 4 CPUs inside the VM
https://i.imgur.com/KenEFur.png -
@MattSpeller I don't understand?
I installed a brand new VM from the CD of 2003, and that works just fine on XS 7.
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@Dashrender said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
@MattSpeller I don't understand?
I installed a brand new VM from the CD of 2003, and that works just fine on XS 7.
Right, but it fails when you try to restore from your backup... what if it's corrupt? I've had it happen with dodgy old crap before.
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@MattSpeller said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
@Dashrender said in Windows Server 2003 P2V adventures:
@MattSpeller I don't understand?
I installed a brand new VM from the CD of 2003, and that works just fine on XS 7.
Right, but it fails when you try to restore from your backup... what if it's corrupt? I've had it happen with dodgy old crap before.
Well, what part do you think might be corrupt? At this point, the only that that appears to be able to be remaining as corrupt is the boot sector or MBR - because as long as I'm able to bypass whichever of those is first, I can boot the VM - using Hirem's boot disk.
