Windows Server

JdashZPC · Guest

I have an NT4 Server with 0% available storage. I just purchased a new Dell
server to replace it.
I want to maintain the domain and users db and data files, DHCP as well.

I have a few questions.
1. Can I move the SAM db to the new machine and maintain the domain name,
easily? are there utilities to do so?
2 If NOT, can I format and install NT on the new server, make it a BDC on
the domain, then take it off line and upgrade it to a PDC, THEN upgrade to
W2K3?

It is imperative that the existing NT4 PDC remain intact, unaltered (for my
mental health)

Thanks in advance

Danny Sanders · Guest

Rebecca Chen [MSFT] · Guest

Yes, the process goes like this:
- Install BDC on the new box.
- Promote a Windows NT 4.0 BDC to the PDC, which demotes the PDC to
a BDC.
- Do a full backup of the former PDC and remove it from the network.
- Upgrade the new PDC to Windows Server 2003.
- Use the Windows Server 2003 Active Directory wizard to turn on the
Active Directory service. The Active Directory service imports the existing
user accounts, groups, and other settings from the PDC.
- Run your new Windows Server 2003 domain controller with Active
Directory for a test period.

Following are the nice docuemtns for your reference:
Upgrading from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/whyupgrade/nt4/nt4tows
03-2.mspx

Windows NT Server - Upgrade/Migrate
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/upgrdmigrate/de
fault.mspx>

HTH!

Best regards,

Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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Leo · Guest

I tried this procedure and it failed the first time when I was finishing the
Active Directory wizard. It failed with a blue screen stop error with a
registry error. It turns out that when you install NT4.0 you can only make
about a 4 gig NTFS partition at install time. By the time you get it set up
as a PDC and then install Server 2003 you're at about 3.5 gig used. The
Active Directory wizard ran it out of disk space. The disk I was installing
it on was 160gig. I had to boot the NT40 Server CD and delete the partition
and start over. Using Server 2003 CD to boot would only take me to the blue
screen. My eventual solution was to get the NT40 PDC running on the drive
then shut the system down and take the drive to a XP Pro system and plug it
in as a secondary drive and use DISKPART to expand the partition to the full
size of the drive. Then reinstall the drive and upgrade to Server 2003.
Now all is fine. This might not be the most elegant solution, but I hope it
saves someone else some time.

"Rebecca Chen [MSFT]" <v-rebc@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:YX8O6QL6EHA.1512@cpmsftngxa10.phx.gbl...
Yes, the process goes like this:
- Install BDC on the new box.
- Promote a Windows NT 4.0 BDC to the PDC, which demotes the PDC to
a BDC.
- Do a full backup of the former PDC and remove it from the network.
- Upgrade the new PDC to Windows Server 2003.
- Use the Windows Server 2003 Active Directory wizard to turn on the
Active Directory service. The Active Directory service imports the existing
user accounts, groups, and other settings from the PDC.
- Run your new Windows Server 2003 domain controller with Active
Directory for a test period.

Following are the nice docuemtns for your reference:
Upgrading from Windows NT Server 4.0 to Windows Server 2003
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/evaluation/whyupgrade/nt4/nt4tows
03-2.mspx

Windows NT Server - Upgrade/Migrate
<http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winntas/deploy/upgrdmigrate/de
fault.mspx>

HTH!

Best regards,

Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================

When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.

=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Rebecca Chen [MSFT] · Guest

Thanks for the experience sharing!

Alternatively, you can refer to the following KB to expand the boot
partition during the upgrade process:
325857 How To Expand the Boot Partition During a Windows Server 2003 Upgrade
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=325857

Best regards,

Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================

When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.

=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

cjmitch · Guest

Could I also use a commercial product like Volume manager to increase the Nt
partition before I do the upgrade?

"Rebecca Chen [MSFT]" wrote:

cladel · Guest

Could I also use a commercial product like Volume manager to increase the Nt
partition before I do the upgrade?

"Rebecca Chen [MSFT]" wrote:

Rebecca Chen [MSFT] · Guest

Yes, VolumeManager 2.0 is a good option. :)

Best regards,

Rebecca Chen

MCSE2000 MCDBA CCNA

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

=====================================================

When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader so
that others may learn and benefit from your issue.

=====================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

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