Windows 2016 Logon Screen Reloads when pressing Cntl+Alt+Del instead of showing password prompt

Question

Hi,

I hope someone has a tip for me because I am out of ideas.

The Problem
This is a Windows Server 2016 Domain Server running without issues for about 2 years.
It boots just fine, but then it comes to the logon screen.
As usual, it shows that I should press Ctrl+Alt+Del to Logon.
However, if I do this, it shows the doted loading circle for a second and goes back to the logon screen. So the Password prompt never shows up. As you see on the giv, it goes a split second to the load screen and then back to the logon.

1

What I tried

1. I tried to press F8 on loading and selected Safe Mode, but this also brings me to the logon screen and if I press Ctrl+Alt+Del same thing happens.
2. I tried "Last knows good configuration", same issue
3. I tried "Repair the computer", and it gave me a stop error "WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR"
4. I opened the PC and checked for dirt or loose stuff. I started it, but the same issue.
5. I tried to login remotely from a connected PC, but it can't find the Server
6. I tried to log in using Safe Mode with a Command prompt, but this also loads the logon screen that I can't bypass.

Any idea what I could do? I also have backups, but because I can't login I can not access them or try to do a system restore. I am out of ideas. This is our domain server, and nobody can access the files, so it is quite a dilemma for me.

Any assistance or tips would be very welcome. Thank you for reading.

Best wishes,
Thomas

Answer 1

Hallo,
can You pls try to boot from ISO and then on windows setup screen press SHITF + F10 to run CMD?
Regards

Answer 2

I was able to resolve the WHEA_UNCORRECTABLE_ERROR and I can boot from the boot CD. But no diagnosis option shown there. I am also able to press F8 and click on repair this computer. But no option that would do a check.

Does anyone know any option to run some file check or something that would enable me to find a reason why the login screen is not loaded. I am not a expert but I would assume that It might not find the file for the login screen or it is corrupted. So when I press Ctrl-Alt-Del it shows the loading screen for a splitsecond and goes back to the Ctrl-Alt-Del logon screen. What file would this logon screen be? Maybe I can copy it from the retail CD or restore it somehow. I also have backups but because I cant login to the Server GUI I cant access server restore.

Any assistance would be very much appreciated, its a huge issue for me?

Answer 3

I ended up setting up a new server. What a nightmare, this took 2 days but I was out of ideas.

Answer 4

I encountered this issue with a VM, had it booted into "last known good configuration" which did the trick.