So today we had yet another interesting challenge, where a Windows update was boot looping a Windows Server 2012R2 machine as follows :

The first message we encountered on the console was the “Stage 1 of 5 – Preparing to configure Windows – Do not turn off your computer”

So obviously this is a problem with a Windows Update being applied to the machine correctly, which has caused a failure which in turn has caused the machine to continuously boot loop.

Quickly followed by “Notifying services that Windows is shutting down”

and then a reboot and the process would then start all over again.

So, to resolve this Windows update boot looping issue we needed to firstly be able to get into the OS.

The easiest way to do this was to boot off the original Windows 2012 R2 Installation media (either ISO / DVD / USB)

Once we got to the Installation screen – we selected “Repair your computer”

Then selected ‘Troubleshoot”

And then “command prompt” and you will be presented with a Command prompt.

This is the ‘old school’ DOS style mode that we use for repairing a lot of issues with Windows.

as per the above picture change into the \Windows\SoftwareDistribution folder and remove all files and folders.

once we exit we need to now reboot the server.

Now remove your installation media and the machine should boot normally.

Now you can move on to diagnosing which Windows update was causing you the problem.

Microsoft provides a tech help article which can help aid you in determining which update is at fault in your situation.

To read more of EtherTech’s Newsletters and Tech articles please click here.

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Cheers!

The NBN (National Broadband Network) is here and available in many areas of Australia.

Why should you care?

Well. The problem with NBN is that 18months after it’s first available to be ordered, all your old ADSL, PSTN, ISDN phone lines will be cut off.

Your Phones, Your Fax, Your EFTPOS, Your alarm. All of those services that are on legacy single telephone lines or even on ISDN telephone lines will be shut off.

You need to act and you need to act now!

EtherTech is an Accredited NBN Business Adviser and we have put together many solutions for lots of business’ now to help transition them over to NBN Internet and Telephony.

EtherTech can help you not only understand how the NBN will affect you, but design a solution that will mean your business can continue to work without downtime.

 Plus, we can save you a LOT of money on your monthly telephone costs!

We have already seen many instances where other companies have promised the world to business’ yet delivered half baked solutions that don’t work!

Some of the issues we’ve seen include downtime during ‘cutover’ of days to weeks. (1 business we know of is still down since December!)  Choppy voice calls, poor internet speeds and poor support.

You pay for what you get! Do you want to risk your business?

A lot of these ‘cheap’ NBN deals are cheap for a reason. They’re not rated for voice calls,  there’s no rules to prioritise voice traffic over data traffic, and these providers only provide basic support, nothing for alarms/fax/EFT etc. They just want a quick sale and move on,  leaving you to deal with the aftermath.

EtherTech can help.

Here at EtherTech we can provide you with not only the design and solution architecture for your business, but we install NBN Internet & Telephone systems as well. Ensuring they are customised to suit and work in your place of business.

We have installed systems now which allow you to telework, meaning you or your sales guys could be working remotely or from home, holiday, overseas  etc, and still have their office telephone extension follow them on their mobile phone or even have a proper work handset at home in their office which is still an extension from the office.

Imagine being able to transfer calls from the office to a remote worker without any diversion or call forwarding costs, as its all done over the NBN and the internet.

With a range of handsets (both fixed and wireless), conference phones, reception addons, headsets etc. We have a solution for every business.

Please give us a call on 1300-ETHERTECH to have a talk and arrange a meeting to  get your business prepared, before its too late!  Until next time!

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