Restoring Active Directory and DNS only

[Guest]

Is there a way to restore active directory and DNS only? I don't want to
restore the system state data since not all programs are installed.

 

[Herb Martin]

Is there a way to restore active directory and DNS only? I don't want to
restore the system state data since not all programs are installed.

No. Not really (as a restore, that is.)

You can certainly do a DCPromo "cycle" IF you have
another DC. DCPromo to non-DC, then back to DC.

Similar for DNS -- if you have another (correct) DNS Server
for the zone. If you don't then you will need to rebuild the
zone which isn't that hard unless you have very many computers.

...since not all programs are installed.

I have no idea what the above portion means.

System State is not about "all programs" nor is it clear
what you mean by "are installed" in this context.

 

[Guest]

System State is not about "all programs" nor is it clear

what you mean by "are installed" in this context.

I'm talking about the registry. If I don't have all the programs installed
and then restore the registry, then I have invalid registry keys.

 

[Herb Martin]

I'm talking about the registry. If I don't have all the programs installed

You mean when you made the backup? That's a pretty
old backup.

Is this your ONLY DC?

(You cannot restore a DC with others present if the System
State being restored is more than 60 days old -- i.e., the
time set on Tombstone Lifetime by default.)

and then restore the registry, then I have invalid registry keys.

Save the portion of the register perhaps?
(Export) -- Import that later, after System State restore?

Software is pretty much self-contained.

 

[Guest]

The backup isn't old just a few days. But I don't want the previously
software installed. But after I reinstall the OS and promo the DC, and then
reboot into directory services safemode restore the System State. After that
I reboot and I get services could not be started.

I just my main thing is the services.

 

[Herb Martin]

The backup isn't old just a few days. But I don't want the previously
software installed. But after I reinstall the OS and promo the DC, and then
reboot into directory services safemode restore the System State. After that
I reboot and I get services could not be started.

I just my main thing is the services.

Without specifics we can only comiserate. <grin>

You might try a repair install or safe mode if you
are just hanging on some problematic service.