I have a client that has a small office (3 workstations) with an old Windows 2K server. It was installed years back for use in running an app that required MS SQL server, etc. At that time it was also installed running active directory, dhcp, etc. They no longer need the server as they are now running their applications online. Furthermore, there server has hardware issues and will die at some point. What I need to do is eliminate the server and just run basic networking (workgroup) in the office so they can exchange a word document or two. Two of the machines will be refreshed with the OS so that is not an issue but one is the owner's laptop running voice recognition, etc and I'd like to have it join the workgroup, loose the server and Active directory without loosing files. BTW - all workstations in the Active directory are Win XP Pro 1) What steps are needed to accomplish backing out of the server? 2) They currently have their My Documents redirected to the server but I'm sure that is just a matter of changing it's properties. 3) An internal network router will take over DHCP duties. Your help and assistance is greatly appreciated and needed as no one I've talked to can help me in this endeavor.

This is relatively simple to accomplish. The most important thing to remember is that when you remove the client pc's from the domain, the users will then log on 'locally', and so have completely new user profiles. So, in order to save the document and settings, you can use the USMT (User State Migration Tool) or the the Windows File Transfer Wizard to move all user settings such as documents, favourites, program settings, etc. You will need to re-load these setting into the new local profile. You can also do this manually, and copy all favourites, pst files, outlook express stores, document, etc. to a separate folder (accessible by both the domain and local users). Another thing to check is that you can log on as the local Administrator on each machine, before removing them from the domain. To remove the computers from the domain, go to the Advanced Properties of you Computer, and on the Computer Name tab, click the worgroup option. Type in the desired workgroup name, and restart the computer. You will then need to log on as the local Administrator for that machine, and create users, restore settings, etc. See the following link for instructions on dis-joiining a domain (in other words, joining a workgroup): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295017

This is relatively simple to accomplish. The most important thing to remember is that when you remove the client pc's from the domain, the users will then log on 'locally', and so have completely new user profiles. So, in order to save the document and settings, you can use the USMT (User State Migration Tool) or the the Windows File Transfer Wizard to move all user settings such as documents, favourites, program settings, etc. You will need to re-load these setting into the new local profile. You can also do this manually, and copy all favourites, pst files, outlook express stores, document, etc. to a separate folder (accessible by both the domain and local users). Another thing to check is that you can log on as the local Administrator on each machine, before removing them from the domain. To remove the computers from the domain, go to the Advanced Properties of you Computer, and on the Computer Name tab, click the worgroup option. Type in the desired workgroup name, and restart the computer. You will then need to log on as the local Administrator for that machine, and create users, restore settings, etc. See the following link for instructions on dis-joiining a domain (in other words, joining a workgroup): http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295017 In addition to this,dont forget to turn on file and print sharing on all the computers so that they can keep exchanging documents.Tunde Abagun MCP,MCSA,MCTS,MCITP en p "for the love of Computers"