[ActiveDir] Slightly OT: Windows 2003 SP1 hangs on Domain Controller

[Lou Vega]

Hi all,   I’m applying W2K3 SP1 on my domain controllers after a test in my lab. In the lab and on the first production domain controllers SP1 installed fine. I have one remaining DC where the SP1 setup hangs during the “backing up registry” portion of the install. The hardware is the same on this final DC as it is on the other DC’s – a Dell 2650. The system remains responsive; however the setup just doesn’t go any further (progress bar). I have left it overnight with no successful completion.   Here’s what I’ve tried:   1)       There was a system reboot before the SP1 process was started….I usually do this anyways before installing a SP 2)       Machine was backed up during normal course of backups 3)       When the machine came up I noticed the removable storage service did not start. Started it and it’s now running 4)       After the 1st install failure, rebooted and successfully applied other Windows updates to the server (some IE6 ones that I had held off on) 5)       Searched Google using “Windows 2003 SP1 Install fails” and “Windows 2003 SP1 Registry backup fails”. Nothing immediately jumped to mind as relevant in those searches. 6)       Searched Support.Microsoft.Com with the same query – again nothing that seems to match my circumstance 7)       It has “stalled” 4 times now at the same point…any suggestions?   Thanks in advance!   Regards, Lou