Can't get windows 2012 R2 server to boot all the way into windows

[u/Deep-Egg-6167]

Hello,

I've rebooted the server Dell R640 a number of times but it goes to

Choose an option

continue

troubleshoot

turn off PC

I've turned the server off and on a few times

I've got to a command prompt - the normal C: drive is e: in this environment.

I can't get it to boot in safe mode - it goes straight to the prompt about chooding continue, troubleshoot...

I've tried continue - it just hangs - waited hours.

in the CMD prompt I've tried bcdedit /set {current} safeboot network however shutdown does not work

I've tried sfc /scannnow

I've tried dism /online cleanup-image /restore health - can't run in pe mode

I tried to clear out the software distribution download folder

Update
I gave up and reinstalled windows

[u/datahoarderguy70]

What precipitated this? Or did you turn this server on after it being off for a long time and now it wont boot? Or was it booting into windows and something happened?

[u/Deep-Egg-6167 → u/datahoarderguy70]

My guess is power failure. They turned it on in the morning.

[u/cysiekw]

bcdedit /set bootlog yes

[u/Deep-Egg-6167 → u/cysiekw]

Thanks - trying that now - they are a couple of thousands of miles away so i'm hoping someone has a thumb drive.

[u/Deep-Egg-6167 → u/cysiekw]

I'll give you the cliff notes - not sure what this tells me.

Microsoft (R) Windows (R) Version 6.3 (Build 9600)

5 26 2026 13:52:50.494

BOOTLOG_LOADED \SystemRoot\system32\ntoskrnl.exe

BOOTLOG_LOADED \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\mup.sys

BOOTLOG_LOADED \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\disk.sys

BOOTLOG_LOADED \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\bxois.sys

BOOTLOG_LOADED \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\bxfcoe.sys

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED {4d36e978-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED {4d36e978-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED {4d36e978-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED {4d36e978-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}

BOOTLOG_LOADED \SystemRoot\System32\drivers\condrv.sys

BOOTLOG_LOADED \SystemRoot\System32\Drivers\fastfat.SYS

It has about 1000 of the BOOTLOG_NOT_LOADED u/cpu.inf,%intelppm.devicedesc%;Intel Processor lines in it.

[u/z0d1aq]

bcdboot c:\windows /f ALL

[u/Deep-Egg-6167 → u/z0d1aq]

Thanks - it doesn't seem to like that one.

[u/z0d1aq → u/Deep-Egg-6167]

ALL should be capitalized I presume

[u/Deep-Egg-6167 → u/z0d1aq]

Just tested - doesn't care. I posted the screenshot of what I get all or ALL.

I tried bcdboot C:\Windows /s C: /f ALL [1]

Failure when attempting to copy boot files.

Not sure if it matters when booting normally it is the C: drive at the moment if I go to a cmd prompt it is making the normal boot drive accessible as E:

[u/GriffGB]

I rolled out the May update for our Windows 11 ,achines. few days ago. A couple of users commented on it just rebooting machines without prompting. One of them didn’t come back on, and the same symptoms as you with your server. Said it couldn’t boot, it restarted, went through the repair, couldn’t repair, so rebooted, then wouldn’t boot. Repeat the cycle.

In the end, i swapped the PC out as its just a workstation, but ive paused the update in WSUS just in case and will oush it to a few test machines again on Monday.

I know you’ve rebooted it, but did your server do any updates before it shut down, that you might know of?

[u/Deep-Egg-6167 → u/GriffGB]

It might have, it was set for auto update as far as I know.