dual booting problems with nt 4.0 server/w2k server

[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

 

[Dave Patrick]

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

 

[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

 

[Dave Patrick]

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

 

[Dave Patrick]

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