Change Domain name

[Tim Kowal]

Is it possible/easy/worth it to change a domain name? I have a single
server, SBS2003. I actually just finished the install and found out the
company's name is spelled differently. Can I demote it and then dcpromo
again? Or is this going to cause problems?

 

[Scott Harding - MS MVP]

Demote/Promote would be the only way to change the domain name. Be aware
that you will lose all domain information and you will have to recreate all
computer/user accounts and basically start the domain over. You will also
have to have every computer rejoin the domain and all user profiles will
have to be recreated. The internal domain name has very little to do with
anything and usually this is not worth the time or effort.

 

[Tim Kowal]

Ok thanks. I agree that it's just a cosmetic deal, but it's a new server for
a new client, so I might just have to do it. But you don't think Exchange
will be fouled up by doing this? If I had to do it, would you recommend
blasting away and starting over, or demote/promote? (If SBS didn't take 3
hours to install I'd just do it that way, but I'm kind of rushed at this
point.) Thanks.

 

[Tim Kowal]

I tried demoting and the running dcpromo, but I should have uninstall
Exchange first. In the end I had to reinstall from scratch. bummer. Up all
night reinstalling was not my plan...

 

[Feng Mao]

Hi Tim,

It is bad to hear that you have to reinstall it from scratch. I could
understand that it is a kind of painful thing.

I hope that the domain name has been corrected now.

Thanks & Regards,

Feng Mao [MSFT], MCSE
Microsoft Online Partner Support

Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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