Server 2008 DC/Exchange Server Converted VM Results in Black Screen with Mouse Cursor Just Before Logon

[Brian_G__Shackl]

We have a server 2008 machine which is a DC and running Exchange (I'm aware this is poor practice, it's inherited). I've been backing it up using Backup Exec 2014 SP1. I recently attempted a VM conversion from a point in time, which ran successfully. The resulting VM will not allow me to log in, however. The server boots into Windows, but the logon screen never comes up. It shows a black screen, and a mouse cursor is the only indication that it's doing anything at all. After some time, the Windows screen saver will kick in, indicating that something is happening in the background. I can also get the StickyKeys dialog up by hitting Shift five times.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

—Brian

[CraigV]

Hi Brian,

Check the best practices section on the P2V blue print below:

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/sites/default/files/Backup%20Exec%202014%20P2V%20and%20B2V%20White%20Paper.pdf

THanks!

[Brian_G__Shackl]

• Basic Disks Only
  In Backup Exec™ 2014, virtual conversion tasks are supported only for physical servers configured with basic disks. Dynamic disk configurations are not supported for virtual conversion tasks.

We meet this criteria. The OS volume, is on a basic disk, and we do not need data from other volumes.

• File System Support
  In Backup Exec™ 2014, virtual conversion tasks are supported only for physical servers configured with NTFS or FAT32 volumes. Other file system types, such as Linux file systems, are not supported for virtual conversion tasks.

We meet this criteria. The volumes we're trying to restore are formatted as NTFS volumes.

• System Support
  In Backup Exec™ 2014, virtual conversion tasks are not supported for GPT volumes. Only MBR volumes are supported.

We meet this criteria. We are not attempting to restore or convert any GPT volumes.

• Clusters
  In Backup Exec™ 2014, virtual conversion tasks are not supported for physical servers configured in a cluster configuration.

We meet this criteria. There is no cluster enabled on this server.

[lmosla]

also how large was the system volume?

' If the boot volume or the system volume on the source physical computer is larger than 2 TB and you are converting to a VMware or Hyper-V 2008 R2 virtual machine, then Backup Exec cannot convert it. A boot volume cannot be split or created as a dynamic spanned volume. This limitation also applies if the boot volume on the source is larger than the destination datastore's maximum supported disk size."

copied from  http://www.symantec.com/docs/HOWTO99484

[CraigV]

...check the Known Issues section out to see if this particular error is listed.

Also refer to the link below for BE 2014 SP2 which is the latest SP. Might be worth upgrading to this and any subsequent patches before push-installing them to your remote servers:

http://www.symantec.com/business/support/index?page=content&id=TECH225093

Thanks!

[Brian_G__Shackl]

The system volume is 130GB.

[Brian_G__Shackl]

I'm having some trouble finding a Known Issues section in the document you referenced previously. Perhaps I misunderstood. Should I be looking elsewhere?

[CraigV]

https://www-secure.symantec.com/connect/backup-and-recovery/issues

If you don't come right, consider opening a support call with Symantec around this.

Thanks!