adprep32 /forestprep yes, must be run on a Schema master adprep32 /domainprep /gpprep on Infrastructure master to identify them run netdom query fsmo Probably, they would be on the same DC but it's worth checking :) And yes, first demote DCs, one by one, reinstall them and promote as DCs once again. Don't worry, that could be also misread by me ;)Regards, Krzysztof ---- Visit my blog at http://kpytko.wordpress.com

adprep32 /forestprep yes, must be run on a Schema master adprep32 /domainprep /gpprep on Infrastructure master to identify them run netdom query fsmo Probably, they would be on the same DC but it's worth checking :) And yes, first demote DCs, one by one, reinstall them and promote as DCs once again. Don't worry, that could be also misread by me ;) Regards, Krzysztof ---- Visit my blog at http://kpytko.wordpress.com Thanks so much, you've been very helpful. This is quite a long term project and there's no urgency on it at the moment, but I'll be sure to check in and post updates as I go along.

Hey all, I've been tasked with investigating the procedure of upgrading our Server 2003 R2 domain functional level to Server 2008. As part the testing phase, I've restored our current on-site DC (2003 R2) onto an old laptop using Backup Exec Disaster Recovery and I've got the DC up and running on it. I'm trying to do a straight upgrade to 2008 on this machine but I keep getting "Upgrade has been disabled" with the following error: "SETUP cannot determine if Windows Server 2008 ADPREP /FORESTPREP and /DOMAINPREP updates exist on this domain controller." I've looked around on the internet for information regarding this error and so far I haven't been able to find anything! I found a really useful article (http://www.elmajdal.net/win2k8/in-place_upgrade_windows_server_2003_domain_controller_to_windows_server_2008.aspx) suggesting I run ADPREP from the 2008 DVD first. I tried that, and I'm getting this error: "Adprep was unable to check the forest update status" During the early stages of the install sequence, I selected "Go online to get the latest updates for installation" - which, judging by the error message, it may require certain updates to complete the upgrade. I've got the laptop plugged into our external customer internet access line (not our corporate network, of course!) and I've confirmed that I've got internet access - even specifically going to the Microsoft updates site - and all is working, but during the install I receive this error message: "Windows was unable to download update files at this time. The latest updates are available through Microsoft Update when setup is complete." So, I'm a little bit stumped! I wanted to do an upgrade on this test laptop first before tackling the actual DC. If anybody has any ideas, I'd really appreciate your input!

First of all, to be able to do in-place upgrade you need to have both 64bit OSes (your 2003 R2 is probably 32bit). In-place upgrade doesn't support action from 32bit to 64bit OS (2008 R2 is only 64 bit). Next step, I would not recommend of doing in-place upgrade for Domain Controller. It's better to do clean install and DC promotion. If you wish you may check my blog for that at http://kpytko.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/adding-first-windows-server-2008-r2-domain-controller-within-windows-2003-network/ and one more thing. If you have more than 1 DC in your network, you cannot use any for tests. You must use that one with Schema Master and Infrastructure Master roles on it. Regards, Krzysztof ---- Visit my blog at http://kpytko.wordpress.com

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, we're running 32 bit on all DC's, and we want to upgrade to Server 2008 32 bit as well. I've had a chat to my manager about this, and while it IS always better to do a clean install, we want to minimize the downtime as much as possible and just go with an upgrade for now. We have more than one DC. I'm trying to do this upgrade on a "test" machine first before doing the actual upgrade, sorry if I didn't make that very clear.

OK, sorry I didn't notice that it's 2008 not R2 :) Ffirst of all run in your environment on any DC command netdom query fsmo and identify which DC holds Schema Master and Infrastructure master. Then use its backup to restore on your test machine. Extend schema and prepare your domain using adprep /forestprep /rodcprep adprep /domainprep /gpprep and start in-place upgrade (if you wish). Then you shouldn't have problem with that.Regards, Krzysztof ---- Visit my blog at http://kpytko.wordpress.com

See this Command Permission Domain Controller Runtime adprep32 /forestprep Schema and Enterprise Admin Schema Master 3-5 mins adprep32 /rodcprep Schema and Enterprise Admin Domain Naming Master Seconds adprep32 /domainprep /gpprep Domain Admin Infrastructure Master Seconds After completing the forestprep check the schema version and wait for the completeing the replication and then run the domainprep. Best regards Biswajit Biswas Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. MCP 2003,MCSA 2003, MCSA:M 2003, CCNA, MCTS, Enterprise Admin

Hello, it seems that your schema master is unavailable. Please run netdom query fsmo and check which DCs are holder of FSMO roles. If these DCs no longer exist then resize them and perform a metadata cleanup. If they still exist then possible you have a connectivity / DNS / replication problem. Use dcdiag.exe for checking. To upgrade to AD DS 2008, refer to this Microsoft Guide: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731188(WS.10).aspx This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. Microsoft Student Partner 2010 / 2011 Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows 7, Configuring Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator

Hello, it seems the restored machine does not be the FSMO roles holder, so make sure the TEST machine is DNS/GC and all 5 FSMO roles are existing; "netdom query fsmo" will show you the roles.Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

Thanks everyone. So, the schema master DC is the only one we can "upgrade" and the rest of the DC's in the organization will need to be clean installs and promoted, is that what you are all saying? In other words, we'll need to upgrade the FSMO DC, raise the domain functional level to Server 2008, and then re-install the rest of the DC's with Server 2008, joining and promoting them on the domain as Server 2008 functional level DC's? Please confirm if I'm understanding this correctly.

Hello, NO that is NOT what we said, please provide the requested information and help us to help you. ipconfig /all >c:\ipconfig.txt [from each DC/DNS Server] dcdiag /v /c /d /e /s:dcname >c:\dcdiag.txt repadmin /showrepl dc* /verbose /all /intersite >c:\repl.txt ["dc* is a place holder for the starting name of the DCs if they all begin the same (if more then one DC exists)] dnslint /ad /s "DCipaddress" (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321045) As the output will become large, DON'T post them into the thread, please use Windows Sky Drive (skydrive.live.com) [with open access!] and add the link from it here. Also the /e in dcdiag scans the complete forest, so better run it on COB.Best regards Meinolf Weber Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights.

No, you need to extend Schema and prepare domain for new 2008 R2 DC by runnig adprep32 /forestprep and adprep32 /domainprep /gpprep more detailed instructions are in article on my blog which I provided in previous post. Then demote old DCs (2003) and reinstall them using Windows Server 2008 R2. Then you will be able to raise Domain Functional Level and/or Forest Functional Level to higher mode. Here you will find how to do that http://kpytko.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/decommissioning-the-old-domain-controller/ You cannot raise Domain Functional Level higher than Windows Server 2003 if you have any 2003 DCs within a network. This is short description of those modes (DFL) Windows 2000 mixed – this mode supports NT4, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003 Domain Controllers Windows 2000 native – it doesn’t support NT4 but additionally supports Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers Windows Server 2003 – supports Windows Server 2003 and above Domain Controllers Windows Server 2008 – supports Windows Server 2008 and above Domain Controllers Windows Server 2008 R2 – only Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers are supported Regards, Krzysztof ---- Visit my blog at http://kpytko.wordpress.com

In Addition, Windows Server 2008 R2 includes a 32-bit version and a 64-bit version of Adprep.exe. The 64-bit version runs by default. If you want to run one of the Adprep.exe commands on a 32-bit computer, use the 32-bit version of Adprep.exe. It is called Adprep32.exe. In Windows 2008 R2, it is located in the \Support\Adprep folder. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/2903.aspx http://awinish.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/upgrade-from-windows-2003-to-20082008-r2-domain-controllers/ Troubleshooting Adprep.exe Errors http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/troubleshooting-adprep-exe-errors.aspx Best regards Biswajit Biswas Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. MCP 2003,MCSA 2003, MCSA:M 2003, CCNA, MCTS, Enterprise Admin

No, you need to extend Schema and prepare domain for new 2008 R2 DC by runnig adprep32 /forestprep and adprep32 /domainprep /gpprep more detailed instructions are in article on my blog which I provided in previous post. Then demote old DCs (2003) and reinstall them using Windows Server 2008 R2. Then you will be able to raise Domain Functional Level and/or Forest Functional Level to higher mode. Here you will find how to do that http://kpytko.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/decommissioning-the-old-domain-controller/ You cannot raise Domain Functional Level higher than Windows Server 2003 if you have any 2003 DCs within a network. This is short description of those modes (DFL) Windows 2000 mixed – this mode supports NT4, Windows 2000 Server, Windows Server 2003 Domain Controllers Windows 2000 native – it doesn’t support NT4 but additionally supports Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers Windows Server 2003 – supports Windows Server 2003 and above Domain Controllers Windows Server 2008 – supports Windows Server 2008 and above Domain Controllers Windows Server 2008 R2 – only Windows Server 2008 R2 Domain Controllers are supported Regards, Krzysztof ---- Visit my blog at http://kpytko.wordpress.com OK, and this needs to be done from the schema master role server? And the rest of the DC's need to be clean installs (once demoted)? That's what I meant to say in my last post, my apologies, there seems to be a bit of a communication barrier between us at the moment :)

See this Command Permission Domain Controller Runtime adprep /forestprep Schema and Enterprise Admin Schema Master 3-5 mins adprep /rodcprep Schema and Enterprise Admin Domain Naming Master Seconds adprep /domainprep /gpprep Domain Admin Infrastructure Master Seconds After completing the forestprep check the schema version and wait for the completeing the replication and then run the domainprep. Best regards Biswajit Biswas Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties or guarantees , and confers no rights. MCP 2003,MCSA 2003, MCSA:M 2003, CCNA, MCTS, Enterprise Admin