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mellis99
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Clone Windows Server 2003 R2 causes Explorer.exe shell to fail on logon

I am running vSphere vCenter 4.1.0 and having problems trying to clone or deploy from template a Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 server.

The original server was once a physical machine I migrated with converter. I cloned it once to template so I could deploy multiple copies from the template. I removed the template from the domain and updated a few network settings and local admin password. Keep in mind this server is running a legacy web server application that cannot be reinstalled, hence the reason for cloning it.

The problem I am having is no matter what settings I use to deploy or clone from the template, I am never able to get all of the sysprep settings to work and upon logging into the machine for the first time explorer.exe never starts. I can attempt to run explorer.exe but it only brings up My Computer and does not load the rest such as taskbar or desktop icons. I have tried to run chkdsk and sfc /scannow but still having problems trying to get explorer to open and function correctly or deploying the VM from template or clone with several different settings.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

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idle-jam
Immortal
Immortal

Hi and welcome to the community.  Have you try to performa cold clone instead? I using vconverter boot cd.

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AndreTheGiant
Immortal
Immortal

Have you removed any hardware dependend drivers and utility after the conversion?

Before clone a VM be sure that it boot correctly and, if possible, always do a clone with the VM power-off.

Have you try to reinstall the SP2?

Andre

Andrew | http://about.me/amauro | http://vinfrastructure.it/ | @Andrea_Mauro
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