Windows Server 2008 R2 black screen with mouse *Please Help*

Question

Hi

We have a HP server with Window server 2008 R2 is having issue after a power outage. This server has RAID 6 configured and it booted into a black screen with mouse cursor. I can not even reach Windows logon page. I can only see running squires on screen for a short period. When I reboot and try to boot into safe mode, it has the same result. I still get a black screen with mouse cursor. Also that ctrl+alt+del did not bring up any task manager.

Then I tried to follow this article:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/4162.windows-server-2008-repair-steps-for-no-boot-issues.aspx

I booted into a DVD installation image and system seems locate at D: instead of C: for some reasons.

Then I ran start up repair and it did not find any problem:

Then, I ran sfc on my D driver and still no error:

Finally, I ran the first chkdskk and it seems to passed but I am not sure if "Failed to transfer logged messages" matter.

Second chkdsk command ask to dismount so I selected for next boot.

So I reboot it into DVD and run it again, but no error:

Then I try to run "icacls d:*.*" /reset /t" which it finished but problem persists.

Could it be something else that causes black screen for me? Is there any option to recover data from that server if there is no way to bring it back?

Thanks a lot!!

Answer 1

Scannow and chkdsk were ok.

Try system restore.

If there are no system restore points or if system restore fails then perform regback.

If regback fails then backup any important files and clean install.

Display these commands with results:

bcdedit /unum all
diskpart
lis dis
lis vol
sel dis 0
det dis
lis par
sel par 1
det par
sel par 2
det par
sel par 3
det par
sel par 4
det par
sel par 5
det par
sel par 6
det par
sel dis 1
det dis
lis par

Regback:

1. Open Administrator: X:\windows\system32\cmd.exe

For each step you must see sizable file sizes for this to work.

If you see zeros the method will fail.

The command: dir will be used each step to make sure that you are in the proper location and to check the size of the files.

2) type: C:
3) dir

4) type: D:
5) dir

Choose the C: or the D: drive to proceed. It should be the windows drive and not the USB drive.

6) type: bcdedit | find "osdevice"

This should display the location of the partition and in most cases is the location of the affected drive.

For this post I will use C: however you should pick the drive letter that you found that has the windows files on your computer.

The proper drive will display: perflogs, program files, program files (x86), users, windows, etc.

7) type or copy and paste: cd \windows\system32\config

It should display: C:\windows\system32\config>

8) type: dir

It should display: bbi, bcd-template, components, default, drivers, elam, sam, security, software, system, vsmidk, journal, regback, systemprofile txr, etc.

All of the file sizes should be sizable. If it displays zeros then abort.

Make a new directory and name it backup or something similar.

9) type: MD backup

Copy all of the files into this new directory.

10) type or copy and paste: copy . backup

It should now display: bbi, bcd-template, components, default, drivers, elam, sam, security, software, system, vsmidk indicating the files were copied.

Change the directory to regback.

11) type: cd regback

It should now display: c:\windows\system32\config\regback>

12) type: dir

It should display: default, sam, security, software, system etc.

All of these files must be sizable. If it displays zeros then abort.

13) type or copy and paste: copy . ..

It should now display:
DEFAULT
Overwrite ..\default? (yes/no/all):

14) type: a

It should now display: sam, security, software, system and that the files were copied.

15) type: exit

16) click turn off your PC

Remove the USB flash drive if you had changed your boot order. Otherwise you can leave it and power on your computer.

Answer 2

Hi Docs-4663

Following are the result of commands you recommended. And there is no backup/restore point on this machine which is obviously a mistake.

"bcdedit /enum all"

"diskpart", "lis dis" and "lis vol"

"sel dis 0", "det dis" and "lis par"

"sel par 1" and "sel part 2"

I have only one disk and two partitions in it.

I've tried overwrite regback, but I still got black screen and a mouse cursor after reboot.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Answer 3

If not already done:
a) test another monitor on the problematic computer
b) test another cable on the problematic computer
c) test the current monitor and cable on another computer

Click these keys simultaneously: Ctrl + Shift + Windows logo key + B > report any changes with the mouse or monitor

The regback commands with results were not posted.

Please make sure all commands with results are posted so that they can be reviewed/verified.

During the latest Windows RE boot:
D: Primary
C: System Reserved

For any reboot recheck the Windows RE drive letters.

Please post images of the commands with results:

Type:

bcdedit | find "osdevice"
(use the displayed partition letter for the windows drive)

dism /image:D:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions

Reboot as needed.

bcdedit | find "osdevice"
(use the displayed partition letter for the windows drive)

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=D:\windows

dism /image:D:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth

dism /image:D:\ /get-packages /format:list

On a working computer insert a bootable flash drive.
Download and install onto the flash drive: HP UEFI hardware diagnostics version 8.0.0.0:
https://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/hpsupportassistant/pc-diags.html

Turn off the problematic computer.
Move the bootable flash drive to the problematic computer.

Power on the computer and repetitively click F2 or the applicable key to boot and select the flash drive.
http://www.disk-image.com/faq-bootmenu.htm

Run the HP UEFI hardware diagnostics overnight > extensive > loop until error > the next day if two or more loops were made click esc > take pictures of the tests performed with results > post mages into the thread > click component tests > video (some are interactive)> post images into the thread

Answer 4

Hi Docs-4663

Thanks for your response, following is the result from regback operation. This my second try so please ignore "backup" folder and I create a backup2 folder this time. I also insert another portable hard drive at F: to move data off it. D drive is still the image that I am trying to recover.

Reboot and problem persists.

I thought about video output possibility but I can see a mouse cursor moving with me. So I think video output is not the problem. Let me know if you think otherwise.

I will try "Ctrl + Shift + Windows logo key + B " tomorrow and post result since it require physical access to the machine.

Following are the result for " bcdedit | find "osdevice" " and "dism /image:D:\ /cleanup-image /revertpendingactions". However, it complained about scratch space so I did not expect it to help and it did not.

"sfc /scannow /offbootdir=C:\ /offwindir=D:\windows"

"dism /image:D:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth" For this command it did not recognize it for some reasons. I look into help and I did not see /restorehealth option either. Maybe my dism version is old?

So I ran it without /restorehealth option and it still not working right.

"dism /image:D:\ /get-packages /format:list" For this command it also complained about scratch space. Then it output a long list of package which I can only capture the end of it. If necessary, I can try to insert a USB key and redirect output to a file.

Please let me know the next step to try.

Thanks

Answer 5

When available post images of HP UEFI hardware diagnostics results.

Please post images of commands with results:

Windows RE > Administrator: X:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe > X:\Sources:>

bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootsect /nt60 all

If no problems are found with HP UEFI hardware diagnostic tests and bootrec commands then reset the BIOS:

How to Clear Your Computers CMOS to Reset BIOS Settings:
https://www.howtogeek.com/131623/how-to-clear-your-computers-cmos-to-reset-bios-settings/
3 Ways to Reset Your BIOS - wikiHow:
http://www.wikihow.com/Reset-Your-BIOS
3 Easy Ways to Clear CMOS (Reset BIOS)
https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-clear-cmos-2624545

If there is no improvement or new findings then plan to backup any important files and clean install:

Create a bootable USB stick on Windows | Ubuntu tutorials
https://tutorials.ubuntu.com/tutorial/tutorial-create-a-usb-stick-on-windows#0
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2147063/linux-to-the-rescue-how-ubuntu-can-help-a-computer-in-distress.html

https://www.windowsservercatalog.com/