I currently have responsibility for a 60 workstation network with 2
Windows 2000 domain controllers. The current active directory
installation is totally screwed up. What I want is a totally new active
directory install. Unfortunately, I need the new domain to be named the
same as the old domain. I'd also like to KEEP my existing user's
settings (passwords can change).

What I could do is take my BDC, install Windows 2003 Server on it (with
a new domain) and then migrate all clients AND user profiles to the new
domain. Then go through the Windows 2003 domain renaming process:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserv...ainrename.mspx.
This will take too long for me to complete by myself in the time frame I
have alotted, so I am looking for a better way.

Here's what I think might work and plan to test:
1. Create new Win2003 domain controller with same domain name (not
attached to network).
2. Copy each user profile to a local user account (using user profile
manager under 'my computer').
3. Take current Win2000 PDC and BDC off of the network.
4. Join the new domain with each workstation
5. Copy the local user profile created in step 2 to the user's domain
profile under the new domain.
6. Re-install the original PDC and BDC and join the new domain.
7. dcpromo the PDC and BDC back to positions of authority and demote the
DC created in step 1.

Will this work? Is there a better way to do this, maybe using the
Active Directory Migration tool
(http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000...t/default.asp),
which I have never used?

I'd highly recommend you get a copy of the WIndows 2003 ADMT (not the Win
2000 one), and use it for this scenario. Create a new domain on new
hardware, and migrate all your principals, machines, data, etc using the
ADMT. The tool is not that hard to use, and if you play with it for a while,
you should be able to figure it out.

--
--
Brian Desmond
Windows Server MVP
desmondb@payton.cps.k12.il.us

Http://www.briandesmond.com


"Michael Smith" <mike_NOSPAM@TODAY_sane.com> wrote in message
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