Overwriting or "upgrading" Windows 2000 server

[Blaze]

Got the service Pack crap SP4 on a Windows 2000 server

had the BSOD cycle until I found it was the Network Cards..(both) causing
it..

If I boot in Safe Mode and disable then boot, activate on of the cards, then
reboot its OK for a few hours or min.. than crashes again

I have tried reinstalling the cards, moving the cards, upgrading the
drivers, reinstalling SP4...

all 111 hotfixes

yet all to no avail..

Still BSOD's with KMODE, and a few others like IRP, and stack errors

The server is a DC, what would happen if I put in the Server CD and
reinstalled with winnt32.exe.

I know on a workstation it keeps the settings and resets / refreshes most of
the stuff back to the original install... would this work with a DC server
with AD ?

What would happen to the DHCP, shares, bats and other settings.

Would it just refresh or would it wipe out the settings

thanks

 

[Steven L Umbach]

An upgrade install should keep things intact IF it can fix the problem. When
I was studying for my MCSE I used the 120 evaluation for W2K advanced server
and used to do upgrade installations when the 120 days expired which kept
settings intact, even for my domain controller, but I had to reapply
reinstall service pack first and then critical updates. See the links
below. --- Steve

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;306952
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;292175

 

[Doug Sherman [MVP]]

Steve is correct - but why don't you try uninstalling SP4 first? You can do
this through Add Remove Programs.

Doug Sherman
MCSE Win2k/NT4.0, MCSA, MCP+I, MVP

 

[Blaze]

Steve is correct - but why don't you try uninstalling SP4 first? You can do
this through Add Remove Programs.

Thanks Steve... the SP4 rollback don't work.... I think its a bit too
imbedded of its been installed too many times

I'll try the Upgrade...

Steve wrote
"but I had to reapply reinstall service pack first and then critical
updates. See the links
below. --- Steve"

do you mean uninstall.. all the hotfixes before the "upgrade or after the
reinstall SP3 after the "upgrade" ?

I am paranoid about losing my AD though

 

[Steven Umbach]

In my test network Active Directory was preserved. I would recommend that you
try to backup/ghost what you have anyways which is always good practice, at
least the System State. To clarify, after an upgrade installation first install
your Service Pack 3 and then go to Windows Update to install all needed critical
updates. You do not need to uninstall anything before you try the upgrade
install. I would also suggest if possible [you would need network connectivity]
to bring another domain controller on the network that would replicate the AD to
during the it's dcpromo process and then transfer the fsmo roles to it. --
Steve

 

[Jeff Cochran]

Got the service Pack crap SP4 on a Windows 2000 server

had the BSOD cycle until I found it was the Network Cards..(both) causing
it..

If I boot in Safe Mode and disable then boot, activate on of the cards, then
reboot its OK for a few hours or min.. than crashes again

I have tried reinstalling the cards, moving the cards, upgrading the
drivers, reinstalling SP4...

all 111 hotfixes

yet all to no avail..

Still BSOD's with KMODE, and a few others like IRP, and stack errors

The server is a DC, what would happen if I put in the Server CD and
reinstalled with winnt32.exe.

I know on a workstation it keeps the settings and resets / refreshes most of
the stuff back to the original install... would this work with a DC server
with AD ?

Normally, yes. make sure you have a backup, and a second DC.

What would happen to the DHCP, shares, bats and other settings.

Normally stay the same.

But, why don't you solve your problem instead? Replace the NIC's.

Jeff

 

[Blaze]

Normally, yes. make sure you have a backup, and a second DC.


Normally stay the same.

But, why don't you solve your problem instead? Replace the NIC's.

I am.....I will be doing a network card transplant and playing with the ram
and see what happens... before I "upgrade"