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Asked: 2011-03-26 15:06:59 +0800 CST

How can I access a remote server with a full disk?

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There is a remote network which I can VPN to. On this network is a Windows Server 2008 install which I would like manage but the server's disk is full. I have tried:

  • Remote Desktop - fails.
  • Windows Explorer - fails.
  • net use - fails with disk space error.
  • Remote shutdown - fails with disk space error.

Some other things which I thought about but aren't installed are: VNC, telnet server, etc. I cannot restart the server physically.

The server is on a domain which I have administrator rights to, can I do something via Active Directory that would cause the computer to free space? Any other ideas?

windows-server-2008 hard-drive

4 Answers

  1. Try to use some out of band management like HP ILOM or Dell DRAC.

    Or may be you have a serial console enabled on the server? See: SAC

    A random person with console access can be helpful too...

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  2. Try PsExec from Sysinternals' PsTools to see if you can get a remote command prompt and delete some files.

    Also can you still use tasklist command line tool to access the remote system's list of running processes? If so, then you might be able to use taskkill to terminate a program that might be holding some files one and possibly free up enough disk space to wedge in there with RDP. Unlikely but worth a shot.

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  3. I guess the Net Use/RDP/Explorer (I assume you mean start -> run -> \\servername\c$ ? if not, try that) fail because you are trying to logon with an account which has not been logged on before / isn't currently logged on, so it's trying to write either a new account folder or update an existing one.

    Do you know if an account is logged on to it which you can try logging in as or connecting as? (Even a service account). Is there anyone, e.g. a desktop user, who has a current open connection to the server who could move a file off it temporarily?

    If you cannot even browse to files on it or logon at all, how do you know the disk is full? How full is it? Is there any space at all? Are there any other disks or partitions with space? Is there anybody there who can, e.g. plug in a thumbdrive or USB drive?

    Does it run SQL Server? If you install the management studio locally, connect to the server, does that work? Then try http://www.kodyaz.com/articles/delete-file-from-sql-server-xp-cmdshell-ole-automation-procedures.aspx

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  4. query user /server:SERVERNAME

    logoff SESSIONID /server:SERVERNAME

    Should get you a little bit of space if there's a lingering user logged onto the box. The below command may be a little old, but it could work...?

    AT \\SERVERNAME TIME powercfg.exe -h off

    This should remove the hybernation file at a given time, then it should be accessible. Should get you 4 or more GB of space. Enough to log in at any rate.

    Read more about AT here: https://support.microsoft.com/kb/313565

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