Desperately need help with W2k3 - w2k8 migration

Hello all, my first post here, it is nice to meet everyone.

Let me start with a little history: I work for a public school system, so needless to say, the money stinks. I was hired on with very limited experience a year ago and have learned a lot in a year, but unfortunately, it's all been through research and experimentation. I pick up stuff quick but sometimes they expect more of me then they should (thank god for the internet... heh). I became the "server guy" because my two co-workers are afraid of the servers.

So I am currently tasked with migrating our old 2K3 domain controller/Schema master to a much better 2K8 box. Here is the rub: I've never migrated squat before and no one else will/can do it.

I am planning on using the MS migration tool so my plan was to create a virtual server which I did with no issues, and I am planning on moving my WSUS server to the virtual server. The thought process being that if it doesn't work, I will be the only one that notices it. My ULTIMATE goal is I need to have our main domain controller/schema master to the new server (but not virtualized, on the actually main server/OS part). The bad part is I need to have all of this done by the 17th. I am quite desperate.


What I am looking for is advice/support/help or a dummies guide to migrating the files/apps and settings because right now I am really overwhelmed.

 

I'm going to be quite honest here.
If it was me I would tell my superiors that you don't have a problem with maintaining the servers but the migration needs to be contracted out by a professional that has "been there and done that ".

Just my 2 cents worth.