Setting up a backup domain controller w/ 2k3

Hi, I'm new here, I apologize in advance if I break any conventions or rules.

I'm trying to set up a server running 2k3 as a backup domain controller so that it can eventually be promoted to primary domain controller to replace our current one (which is old, running 2000, and behaving erratically from time to time).

Using the standard "add role" option from the menu that comes up upon booting, when I try to add it as a backup domain controller, it fails and tells me that the forest on the existing domain controller isn't prepared for 2k3. However, after the first time it told me this, I ran adprep /forestprep, and adprep /domainprep, and I still get the same message when I try and run the setup.

Any idea what would be causing this problem?

Thanks for the help.

 

No answer yet.

Sorry, I do not have an answer as I am having the same problem. My original DC is running Win 2000 Server (not advance server). My new server will be running Win 2003 server Standard edition.

I've run the ADPREP, Forrest prep, and so forth, but I get the same "error ".

I'm looking for an answer. I can not upgrade my DC, since the person that was here before me, only left less than 500MB of free space. I tried once, and was told there is not enough free space to upgrade to W2003 server.

I'll keep an eye on your posting & see if anyone has an answer. If I hear of anything I'll let you know.

Tony

 

Thanks

I think at this point the plan is to just make the 2003 server the primary domain controller, then format the current DC and install 2003 on it for use as backup.

Let me know, still, if you find anything out. It'd be great to get some resolution on this problem

 

Check the event viewer to see if you can give us more information. Maybe there is a MS KB article it will point you to.

 

Maybe try this

I ran accross this on the HELP page for ADPREP, see below

Adprep /forestprep must be run on the schema master.
Adprep /domainprep must be run on each infrastructure master in each domain, and only after adprep /forestprep has been run successfully for the forest.
You must wait for the changes made by adprep /forestprep to replicate from the schema master to the infrastructure masters before running adprep /domainprep. If you try to run adprep /domainprep on an infrastructure master before the adprep /forestprep changes have replicated, you will receive notification that the forest preparation has not finished.
After you prepare your forests and domains with adprep, you can leave your domain controllers running Windows 2000 for an indefinite length of time, or you can begin the domain controller upgrade immediately.

To me it seems we need to run the ADPREP on the DC that has the Schema Master on it (in my case, my original DC not my new server). Maybe we've been trying to run it on the wrong computer.

 

Solution for me...

Just encountered the exact same problem here. By any chance is your new Windows Server 2003 the R2 version?

If it is, and you have applied all the latest updates, then you will find that your new (about-to-become) domain controller will keep giving you this error until:

On your schema master, you must run the adprep program (as the others have said). However, there are in fact two different versions of adprep! The latest version can be found on your R2 2nd disk! (Not the one found in the i386 of the first disk). Look into the 2nd disk, and you should find it within \CMPNENTS\RD\ADPREP

A bit crazy that the microsoft technet site doesn't bother mentioning this here: http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/Library/bc5ebbdb-a8d7-4761-b38a-e207baa734191033.mspx?mfr=true

 

Yeah, I bet that'll do it. Now I just have to decide whether it's worth it to scrap the user directory I already created in order to start over or not

*edit* That fixed my problem. Thanks a lot eric, I had more or less given up until today.