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[Explore Stack Internal](https://stackoverflow.co/internal/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=serverfault-community&utm_campaign=side-bar&utm_content=explore-teams-compact-popover) # [How to remotely reboot a hung server](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server) [Ask Question](https://serverfault.com/questions/ask) Asked 14 years, 2 months ago Modified [11 years, 4 months ago](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server?lastactivity "2014-11-19 01:19:46Z") Viewed 66k times This question shows research effort; it is useful and clear 24 Save this question. Show activity on this post. I'm trying to remotely reboot a hung 2003 server. The server is pingable but I cannot remote into it. ``` psshutdown does not work shutdown -i does not work ``` What can I do now that the server is back up to make sure one of these solutions will work in the future? - [windows](https://serverfault.com/questions/tagged/windows "show questions tagged 'windows'") - [windows-server-2003](https://serverfault.com/questions/tagged/windows-server-2003 "show questions tagged 'windows-server-2003'") [Share](https://serverfault.com/q/352712 "Short permalink to this question") Share a link to this question Copy link [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ "The current license for this post: CC BY-SA 3.0") [Improve this question](https://serverfault.com/posts/352712/edit) Follow Follow this question to receive notifications [edited Jan 23, 2012 at 23:41](https://serverfault.com/posts/352712/revisions "show all edits to this post") [](https://serverfault.com/users/2321/warren) [warren](https://serverfault.com/users/2321/warren) 19\.4k2424 gold badges8989 silver badges141141 bronze badges asked Jan 23, 2012 at 13:46 [](https://serverfault.com/users/8199/mathewc) [MathewC](https://serverfault.com/users/8199/mathewc) 7,14799 gold badges4444 silver badges5353 bronze badges 4 - 13 :) couldn't resist.... [thedailywtf.com/Articles/ITAPPMONROBOT.aspx](http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/ITAPPMONROBOT.aspx) woliveirajr – [woliveirajr](https://serverfault.com/users/85246/woliveirajr "176 reputation") 2012-01-23 15:47:51 +00:00 [Commented Jan 23, 2012 at 15:47](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment352994_352712) - 1 If this server has IPMI capabilities go and reset it in person if you can (of get some remote hands and eyes) so that someone can set the IPMI details for future remote access. Or have it connected to a managed PDU or similar devices, so you can hard cycle that servers power port. Baldrick – [Baldrick](https://serverfault.com/users/76598/baldrick "4,322 reputation") 2012-01-23 20:05:13 +00:00 [Commented Jan 23, 2012 at 20:05](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment353159_352712) - 1 @woliveirajr - *Years later, and long after Erik had left, the faulty server was taken offline and replaced with a new one...* Nothing's so permanent as a temporary fix. The world's full of them\! Fiasco Labs – [Fiasco Labs](https://serverfault.com/users/79590/fiasco-labs "563 reputation") 2012-01-24 00:43:11 +00:00 [Commented Jan 24, 2012 at 0:43](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment353284_352712) - 1 @woliveirajr - To this day in that server room people swear they can still hear the tuhumping of an opening/closing cd tray. The ghost of ITCUPHOLDERROBOT. - Thanks for sharing this. stefgosselin – [stefgosselin](https://serverfault.com/users/105364/stefgosselin "257 reputation") 2012-01-25 18:59:09 +00:00 [Commented Jan 25, 2012 at 18:59](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment354137_352712) [Add a comment](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server "Use comments to ask for more information or suggest improvements. Avoid answering questions in comments.") \| ## 3 Answers 3 Sorted by: [Reset to default](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server?answertab=scoredesc#tab-top) This answer is useful 17 Save this answer. Show activity on this post. If Windows doesn't respond to the usual requests to reboot, there's not much else you can do at that point to ensure similar situations in the future to be prevented. A few times I've managed to reboot a hung Windows OS that didn't respond to shutdown or psshutdown by using SCCM client center or pskill to kill lsass.exe. Once that is killed, the kernel forcibly bring the system down for a reboot after 60 seconds. More often than not, however, lsass cannot be killed and that trick won't work. What kind of hardware is this server running on? Can you install Server 2008R2 instead? While server 2003 is pretty stable, it's still a long way from the stability of 2008, if that's an option. Another option would be to virtualize the 2003 server if it has stability issues due to some odd program it needs to run or some other configuration that cannot be changed to resolve the stability issues. That way you can reset the virtual session if it hangs. There's many options to resolve your situation, however none of them will involve something as simple as changing a few settings in your Windows Server 2003 install or installing a piece of software. Usually by the time a Windows OS is to the point you describe, it's hung to the point that nothing short of a power/reset button press will suffice. [Share](https://serverfault.com/a/353653 "Short permalink to this answer") Share a link to this answer Copy link [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ "The current license for this post: CC BY-SA 3.0") [Improve this answer](https://serverfault.com/posts/353653/edit) Follow Follow this answer to receive notifications answered Jan 25, 2012 at 22:01 [](https://serverfault.com/users/104144/daniel-winks) [Daniel Winks](https://serverfault.com/users/104144/daniel-winks) 36611 silver badge22 bronze badges 4 - 1 So far this is the only answer that actually answered the question. I know all about kvms and hard reboots. I did NOT know about the killing lsass.exe trick. Thanks\! MathewC – [MathewC](https://serverfault.com/users/8199/mathewc "7,147 reputation") 2012-01-27 15:14:38 +00:00 [Commented Jan 27, 2012 at 15:14](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment355008_353653) - For my hung Server 2003 machine killing `csrss`did the trick. It initiated a BSOD event, which took a *very* long time to memory dump, but afterwards the machine came back up more or less operational. At least operational enough that I could log in and begin troubleshooting the underlying cause. matt wilkie – [matt wilkie](https://serverfault.com/users/15882/matt-wilkie "511 reputation") 2016-02-29 21:25:35 +00:00 [Commented Feb 29, 2016 at 21:25](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment956608_353653) - pskill lsass worked for me on a hung w2k8 r2 server that didn't repond to shutdown.exe or psshutdown.exe JimSTAT – [JimSTAT](https://serverfault.com/users/93923/jimstat "246 reputation") 2016-07-02 12:42:58 +00:00 [Commented Jul 2, 2016 at 12:42](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment995518_353653) - you can also try to use PSKILL to kill WINLOGON (it worked for me on a 2012 r2 server). I found the pskill advice here: [community.spiceworks.com/how\_to/1935-unstick-a-remote-reboot](https://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/1935-unstick-a-remote-reboot) Max – [Max](https://serverfault.com/users/104594/max "152 reputation") 2020-07-06 09:45:24 +00:00 [Commented Jul 6, 2020 at 9:45](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment1330272_353653) [Add a comment](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server "Use comments to ask for more information or suggest improvements. Avoid comments like “+1” or “thanks”.") \| This answer is useful 31 Save this answer. Show activity on this post. - Log into your KVM unit - Trigger a hard reset. Servers off site should always have an IPMI daughterboard with KVM functionality. This allows you to remote control the server including turning it on or off. Servers without that are not servers. [Share](https://serverfault.com/a/352713 "Short permalink to this answer") Share a link to this answer Copy link [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ "The current license for this post: CC BY-SA 3.0") [Improve this answer](https://serverfault.com/posts/352713/edit) Follow Follow this answer to receive notifications [edited Jan 23, 2012 at 14:33](https://serverfault.com/posts/352713/revisions "show all edits to this post") user11604 answered Jan 23, 2012 at 13:48 [](https://serverfault.com/users/37059/tomtom) [TomTom](https://serverfault.com/users/37059/tomtom) 52\.2k88 gold badges6262 silver badges142142 bronze badges 5 - 16 \+1 for Servers without that are not servers\! Khaled – [Khaled](https://serverfault.com/users/58024/khaled "38,087 reputation") 2012-01-23 14:39:29 +00:00 [Commented Jan 23, 2012 at 14:39](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment352956_352713) - I don't have my hands on the purse strings, and the system is still up. So I'm looking for a way to soft cycle it. MathewC – [MathewC](https://serverfault.com/users/8199/mathewc "7,147 reputation") 2012-01-23 15:03:59 +00:00 [Commented Jan 23, 2012 at 15:03](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment352970_352713) - 5 Thee is none. Simple. Server needs reboot buttnio pressed = no soft cycle possible. This is why tehre is special tech that is - when bought wihth a server - very cheap. Someone on your end botchered that, now live with it. TomTom – [TomTom](https://serverfault.com/users/37059/tomtom "52,152 reputation") 2012-01-23 17:08:31 +00:00 [Commented Jan 23, 2012 at 17:08](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment353048_352713) - 2 In otherwords a relay that closes momentarily when you ping it with a code. Looks like a job for an Adafruit Arudino with built-in Ethernet, a TIP-120 transistor, anti-kick diode and a relay. Wire it across the reset switch and give it a thump when the server dies. Then you can have a "Real Server". Not so botched tech for a more liveable world\! Fiasco Labs – [Fiasco Labs](https://serverfault.com/users/79590/fiasco-labs "563 reputation") 2012-01-24 00:48:59 +00:00 [Commented Jan 24, 2012 at 0:48](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment353287_352713) - Pros work with pro equipment, Fiasco. What about updating your BIOS remotely, or reinstalling the OS? A properKVM system allows you to attach a remote DVD image to the server without the OS getting involved. I rather have the ability to diagnose and fix remote servers without going there - and guesss what, it works nicely in cases of "no boot record found" also. TomTom – [TomTom](https://serverfault.com/users/37059/tomtom "52,152 reputation") 2012-01-24 04:49:15 +00:00 [Commented Jan 24, 2012 at 4:49](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment353326_352713) [Add a comment](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server "Use comments to ask for more information or suggest improvements. Avoid comments like “+1” or “thanks”.") \| This answer is useful 18 Save this answer. Show activity on this post. You can try `shutdown /m \\computer /r /t 0` to try and force an immediate reboot and force-close any open programs. If that doesn't work, you're probably going to have to power cycle it. If you have a DRAC/iLO or similar LOM card, now would be the time to take advantage of it. [Share](https://serverfault.com/a/352714 "Short permalink to this answer") Share a link to this answer Copy link [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ "The current license for this post: CC BY-SA 3.0") [Improve this answer](https://serverfault.com/posts/352714/edit) Follow Follow this answer to receive notifications answered Jan 23, 2012 at 13:50 [](https://serverfault.com/users/10472/mdmarra) [MDMarra](https://serverfault.com/users/10472/mdmarra) 101k3333 gold badges202202 silver badges331331 bronze badges 4 - you'd also need the /f switch to force close open programs August – [August](https://serverfault.com/users/12303/august "3,134 reputation") 2012-01-23 14:44:21 +00:00 [Commented Jan 23, 2012 at 14:44](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment352961_352714) - 2 @August `/f` is implied by `/t` here, so it would be superfluous. It wouldn't hurt anything if you use it out of habit, though. MDMarra – [MDMarra](https://serverfault.com/users/10472/mdmarra "101,431 reputation") 2012-01-23 15:18:59 +00:00 [Commented Jan 23, 2012 at 15:18](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment352975_352714) - @MDMarra, nice find! `The /f parameter is implied when a value greater than 0 is specified for the /t parameter.` That seems to imply you need to have something more than 0. Nixphoe – [Nixphoe](https://serverfault.com/users/27920/nixphoe "4,622 reputation") 2012-01-25 22:06:41 +00:00 [Commented Jan 25, 2012 at 22:06](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment354245_352714) - 1 @Nixphoe despite what's documented, I can assure you that `/f` is implied with `/t` even if you use 0. `/t 0` will cause an immediate forced shutdown of the target machine and force-close all open applications that don't exit in an immediate manner, MDMarra – [MDMarra](https://serverfault.com/users/10472/mdmarra "101,431 reputation") 2012-01-25 22:37:47 +00:00 [Commented Jan 25, 2012 at 22:37](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server#comment354254_352714) [Add a comment](https://serverfault.com/questions/352712/how-to-remotely-reboot-a-hung-server "Use comments to ask for more information or suggest improvements. Avoid comments like “+1” or “thanks”.") \| ## You must [log in](https://serverfault.com/users/login?ssrc=question_page&returnurl=https%3A%2F%2Fserverfault.com%2Fquestions%2F352712) to answer this question. Start asking to get answers Find the answer to your question by asking. 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If Windows doesn't respond to the usual requests to reboot, there's not much else you can do at that point to ensure similar situations in the future to be prevented. A few times I've managed to reboot a hung Windows OS that didn't respond to shutdown or psshutdown by using SCCM client center or pskill to kill lsass.exe. Once that is killed, the kernel forcibly bring the system down for a reboot after 60 seconds. More often than not, however, lsass cannot be killed and that trick won't work. What kind of hardware is this server running on? Can you install Server 2008R2 instead? While server 2003 is pretty stable, it's still a long way from the stability of 2008, if that's an option. Another option would be to virtualize the 2003 server if it has stability issues due to some odd program it needs to run or some other configuration that cannot be changed to resolve the stability issues. That way you can reset the virtual session if it hangs. There's many options to resolve your situation, however none of them will involve something as simple as changing a few settings in your Windows Server 2003 install or installing a piece of software. Usually by the time a Windows OS is to the point you describe, it's hung to the point that nothing short of a power/reset button press will suffice.