SBS2K Disaster recovery using backup / restore without Outlook?

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AndrewM - 20 Sep 2008 23:43 GMT

We've had a 2-disk failure (main system disk and the Exchange IS disk), with
the current status of the SCSI disks indeterminate. Being my only SCSI
machine, I have limited options for moving drives around, and rather than
risk disk recovery programs further messing up the drives, I decided to buy a
new SCSI disk with the intention of reinstalling SBS2000 then restoring a
recent backup on top of it.

I got through the regular Win2k Server portion of the installation and into
the SBS2K-specific installation. I then got prompted for the product keys for
SBS (no problem) and Outlook - big problem! The key isn't on the SBS
packaging, and as this is a really old version of Outlook, we must have
unwittingly trashed the original media as being surplus to requirements. I
did find Outlook 2000 on another server of ours and I used a key-extractor to
get the key, but the SBS install didn't accept it. Even with the key, I don't
know if it needs the physical media as well to perform the install, or
whether the programs are also on the SBS media.

Does anyone have any suggestions for working round this or any alternate
recovery strategies?

I was hoping this server would last until SBS2008 got released :(

Thanks,

- Andrew

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SuperGumby [SBS MVP] - 21 Sep 2008 00:03 GMT

if restoring you should _only_ be doing the 'base OS install' then restoring
from backup.

> We've had a 2-disk failure (main system disk and the Exchange IS disk),
> with
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> - Andrew

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SuperGumby [SBS MVP] - 21 Sep 2008 00:05 GMT

typical. I call for the group to be destroyed and _immediately_ there is a
legitimate SBS 2000 question.

> We've had a 2-disk failure (main system disk and the Exchange IS disk),
> with
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> - Andrew

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AndrewM - 22 Sep 2008 20:18 GMT

Thanks for the reply - I'm glad the groups haven't been destroyed just yet!!

The documents I read said and/or implied you had to do a basic install of
SBS as well - I'm _really_ glad if that's not the case! My options look a lot
better :)

- Andrew

> typical. I call for the group to be destroyed and _immediately_ there is a
> legitimate SBS 2000 question.
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> >
> > - Andrew

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Merv Porter [SBS-MVP] - 23 Sep 2008 12:59 GMT

Hi Andrew,

Presuming that you had SBS 2000 SP1a installed when you did the last backup:

(as SG said)...

Install base Windows 2000 Server from CD1
Install Windows 2000 SP4
Set up partitions exactly as they were before the disaster
Install any tape drivers (if necessary)
Do authoratative install of system state

Windows 2000 Server Downloads
(includes Win2K SP4)
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/2000/bb735341.aspx

Chapter 26 - Disaster Recovery (SBS 2000)
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:nzC9V0PSOc0J:www.microsoft.com/technet/prodt
echnol/sbs/2000/reskit/sbrk0026.mspx+sbs+2000+authoritative+restore&hl=en&ct=cln
k&cd=1&gl=us

Words from Jeff Middleton (SBS-MVP) on bare metal restore
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.backoffice.smallbiz2000/browse_t
hread/thread/7341270dedfb4deb/c478d0c423d42faa?hl=en&lnk=st&q=Disaster+recovery+
for+a+SBS2000+server#c478d0c423d42faa

Signature

Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

> Thanks for the reply - I'm glad the groups haven't been destroyed just
> yet!!
[quoted text clipped - 48 lines]
>> >
>> > - Andrew

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AndrewM - 24 Sep 2008 22:44 GMT

Thanks for the reply as well Merv.

I've recovered most of the original C: disk to a backup disk, but there are
quite a few missing files / folders, so it's not usable for anything but a
reference.

Starting with a new C disk, the system is almost back to normal, but not
quite. I did pretty much what you suggested - the only bit I couldn't do was
an "authoritative" restore of system state - I never saw that option
anywhere. However I presume as this is SBS there is no replication and that
shouldn't be an issue. FWIW my final System State backup was taken less than
24 hours before the crash.

BUT... I have some issues remaining, the main ones being:

1) I'm seeing events related I think to Group Policy. One is that the server
service was unable to restore the NETLOGON share because the directory
sysvol\<domain>\ SCRIPTS doesn't exist. In fact the sysvol\<domain> directory
is completely empty. This could explain a "userenv" event I'm also seeing:
"Windows cannot access the file gpt.ini for GPO. The file must be present at
the location <>. (). Group Policy processing aborted. " I don't understand
why these files weren't restored when I restored the system state?

2) Equally I'm not convinced the admin's registry hive was restored, since
when I run Outlook, it wants to install the program again (and just hangs on
that dialog). Looking in the registry for HKLM I don't see any settings for
MS Office

3) Explorer hangs when I try and browse C:\winnt, but it does show the
status line. I can traverse it though when I browse subdirectories (but I
can't browse system32). Works OK in safe mode

4) Can't change Service settings (eg to disable startup), except in safe mode

At this poit I'm wondering whether to just start over!

> Hi Andrew,
>
[quoted text clipped - 70 lines]
> >> >
> >> > - Andrew

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Merv Porter [SBS-MVP] - 24 Sep 2008 23:21 GMT

Authoratative or non-Authoratative asre done by going restarting the domain
controller in DSRM (Directory Services Resote Mode) and performing the
System restore.

Yep, I think I'd start with a fresh install and just re-create everything
manually without a restore. I don't think I'd trust the restore you have
now. It means that you'll need to rejoin the workstations to the new domain
you create, though and this could produce some pain for the users as they'll
get a fresh profile. (If you have a backup from a week or so ago, I suppose
you could try a restore with it if you wanted to).

Exchange may be a pain point. I think you may be able to use the following
KB article:

How to move Exchange 2000 to new hardware and keep the same server name
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297289

You may even be able to reinstall SBS 2000 fresh withthe same server name,
domain, name, etc., then set the <blank> Exchange databases to be
overwritten and do a restore from your present backup. (This assumes the
Exchange part of your backup is good).

I suspect that part of your backup are corrupt or missing due to the disk
failures (may have been failing for some time). I don't think a swing
migration will help you because it appears your active directory isn't
completely intact.

Signature

Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

> Thanks for the reply as well Merv.
>
[quoted text clipped - 128 lines]
>> >> >
>> >> > - Andrew

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AndrewM - 25 Sep 2008 00:34 GMT

By starting fresh, i meant do a new restore... I can't reinstall SBS 2000,
because SBS wants a key for Outlook, and as its not on the SBS CD with the
SBS key, I'm guessing we must have had a separate CD for Outlook which we
must have trashed as it's an old rev :(

Good point on the backup potentially backing up corrupted files. I do have
an older one I can use, so it's worth a try.

I did use DSRM to restore the backup, but never saw an option for
authoritative vs non-authoritative - could it be superfluous in SBS?

> Authoratative or non-Authoratative asre done by going restarting the domain
> controller in DSRM (Directory Services Resote Mode) and performing the
[quoted text clipped - 155 lines]
> >> >> >
> >> >> > - Andrew

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AndrewM - 25 Sep 2008 00:54 GMT

Actually the server was not a domain controller when I did the restore, so
maybe that's why I didn't get the option for authoritative? It was regular
W2K server, to which I then added SP4 ...I then restored the files, then next
the system state (iirc - I think I had to do them seperately).

- Andrew

> By starting fresh, i meant do a new restore... I can't reinstall SBS 2000,
> because SBS wants a key for Outlook, and as its not on the SBS CD with the
[quoted text clipped - 166 lines]
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > - Andrew

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Merv Porter [SBS-MVP] - 25 Sep 2008 01:32 GMT

As long as SBS is the only domain controller on the network, an
authoritative rstore and a non-authoritative restore will be the same:

boot into Directory Services Restore Mode, restore the system state from a
backup, reboot

Outlook 2000 Product Key...

From your cuurent restore, go the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\BackOffice

In the right pane, look for the following key: OutlookPID

Write down the Outlook product key for future reference.

Reference:

Cannot Enter Outlook 2000 CD Key Number During Small Business Server 2000
Setup
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288422

Signature

Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

> By starting fresh, i meant do a new restore... I can't reinstall SBS 2000,
> because SBS wants a key for Outlook, and as its not on the SBS CD with the
[quoted text clipped - 193 lines]
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > - Andrew

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Merv Porter [SBS-MVP] - 25 Sep 2008 01:43 GMT

And SBS 2000 had the following CDs:

three CDs... SBS setup (CD1, CD2, CD3)
one CD... MS Outlook 2000 SR-1
one CD... SBS 2000 Service Packs
one CD... SBS 2000 - Windows 200 Cusotmer Support and Diagnostic Tools
two CDs... FrontPage 2000 SR-1 (CD 1, CD2)

On top of this was:

SBS 2000 SP1a (final update to SBS 2000; available via download or order CD)
Outlook 2002 (available via order CD only)

Small Business Server 2000 Service Pack 1a
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f4fc58d0-1fac-4927-84d7
-189fa1b690be&displaylang=en

Signature

Merv Porter [SBS-MVP]
============================

> As long as SBS is the only domain controller on the network, an
> authoritative rstore and a non-authoritative restore will be the same:
[quoted text clipped - 227 lines]
>>> >> >> >
>>> >> >> > - Andrew

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John Mc - 06 Nov 2008 12:56 GMT

Andrew,

Having the full set of disks etc in front of me, the outlook and fontpage
license keys are on a card (orange labels) that was mixed in with the CDs.

I would have thought that the license key would be in a client pc that
installed outlook automatically when the pc was first joined to the domain.
(all - please let me know if I am out of line with this comment)

Probably not much help...

Cheers,

> And SBS 2000 had the following CDs:
>
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> >>> >> >> >
> >>> >> >> > - Andrew

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