Strange 2k3 network breakdown

Anyway, I've had Server 2k3 running fine on this machine for a very long time. The networking has always sat on the same assigned IP and I'll say right at the outset that this IP is still available on the network, users can access files from the shares just fine.

So the other day, everything is going fine, and I myself was *cough*browsing*cough*web*cough*pages on the server. Suddenly there was no network (at least from my end). A quick cmd->ipconfig showed that indeed, the network address of our beloved server was 0.0.0.0

Well, needless to say I have tried various hardware and software resets in order to resolve the problem. OK, to be quick but explicit:

Disabling/Reenabling LAN
Uninstalling/Reinstalling Card
Unplugging/Replugging Cable
Power Cycling Switch
Unsetting/Resetting IP Config

...all failed.

The scary thing though is that a fresh copy of XP installed to another partition gave me instant internet access. Worse still, a fresh 2k3 install works just fine too. After numerous reboots the rather important original installation of 2k3 complains of socket layers being unavailable and such.

I had resigned myself to a repair install. That seems to have failed to. I am too scared to boot into the main install - I'm guessing its now stuck in an endless loop of reinstalling windows.

Soo... In a nutshell I'm looking for anyone who has heard of anything remotely similar, and more to the point - ways to *hardcore* reset my network settings.

TIA for absolutely any info. I'm off to see if it is possible to resurrect the other install at all at this stage.

 

Same thing after repair install

Yes I had tried that. After forcing my way through a repair install nothing has changed as far as the sockets.

Does anyone have any more info about this? It's an extremely strange problem.

 

Try removing and reinstalling the TCP/IP protocol.

Somtimes helps

Good luck

Cheers

 

Whoopsie....soz meant to add

Try removing and reinstalling the TCP/IP protocol. (In network settings)

Somtimes helps

Good luck

Cheers

 

Thanks again. I tried this to no avail. Even after a repair install the machine was visible on the network but as far as it itself was concerned, the IP was 0.0.0.0 and sockets were not a part of Windows

I do appreciate everyone's input, but I've rebuilt the server from scratch now so I don't need a solution any more.

For the record I'd like to give Microsoft a big F U for not even listing Server 2k3 as one of their OSes on the support page. It is IMPOSSIBLE to find support for this, their (very expensive) flagship product. I had much more luck getting advice here than anywhere MS related.

Cyas round,
Aaron.

 

Glad you got it sorted!

Now that u have your clean install...Image that bad boy!!!

There is a server version of Acronis. That +some dat tapes can save a bit of time if things go all rubbish at a later date.

Glad your up and running.

Cheers