Hi, we have a WSS 3.0 installation that needs to be reinstalled, the problem is not actually the WSS installation, but a problem with the underlying OS (Windows 2008) and the tech guys say we need to do a reinstall.All the databases are located on a separate server and is not in any way affected by this reinstall, the databases will be exactly as before the sharepoint reinstall (location, access etc.)What would be the easiest way to do this? Is there a way to recreate the sites or take backup's of them without the database files and then restore the sites and attach the database files after?Hope you can help...-- Christian

Hi Christian,as long as you have you Conetnt Databases, which located on another DB Server, nothing to worry aboutyou can install and configure a new farm, then attach your content db to new web applications using STSADMalso you can try to dissconnect your server from the farm before the reinstallationthen install WSS with the same version, and try to connect to the old farmplease tell us if you have other questionsBest Regards, Ammar MCT http://ahmed-ammar.blogspot.com Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Hi,I would follow the below steps -1> note down the WSS 3.0 version thats currently present.2> disconnect the web server from the farm..3> Clean up the server. see that the server name is still the same. If you are changing the web server name, then you need to create a new sharepoint farm. But you can use the web application's content db for attaching it to the new web applications that would be created.4> install WSS 3.0 and check that its of the same version as before.5> Start the configuration wizard. and select connect to existing farm. Point it to the db server and get the farm up and running.6> Then create the web applications and attach the content dbs respectively...Hope this helps...

Thank you, that seems to be the easiest way.But when you create a new Web Application it will automatically create a new database, or is that different when you choose to connect to an existing farm?Or should you just create a database and then remove it and attach the other existing database?-- Christian

Hi Christian,You are right, when you create a new web application, a new content database is createdso you will remove the new databse and attach the old oneyou can check steps similar here http://ahmed-ammar.blogspot.com/2009/05/how-to-move-sharepoint-content-database.htmlBest Regards, Ammar MCT http://ahmed-ammar.blogspot.com Posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.