Recovering user profiles

[Guest]

I am in the process of recovering a windows 2000 server. The HDD died with no
backup of the system files - only the data (in a folder mapped as a drive by
the users).

I have replaced the HDD, re-installed Windows2000 server and set it up as a
domain controller. I don't know for sure that I have used the original domain
name - I wasn't able to recover the details from the old drive and there is
no documentation. (I was, fortunately, able to recover the saved data from
tape.)

I now want to attach the clients to the domain. When I try to do this, they
seem to be registered as new users and create a new profile on the clients.
Is there any way I can register the clients using their existing profiles?

The clients are all working as stand-alone machines and can map to the
folder on the server.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I am in the process of recovering a windows 2000 server. The HDD died
with no backup of the system files - only the data (in a folder
mapped as a drive by the users).

I have replaced the HDD, re-installed Windows2000 server and set it
up as a domain controller. I don't know for sure that I have used the
original domain name - I wasn't able to recover the details from the
old drive and there is no documentation. (I was, fortunately, able
to recover the saved data from tape.)

I now want to attach the clients to the domain. When I try to do
this, they seem to be registered as new users and create a new
profile on the clients. Is there any way I can register the clients
using their existing profiles?

The clients are all working as stand-alone machines and can map to the
folder on the server.

Join them to the new domain.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

You may be able to copy the profiles - log in as the new user to the new
domain, log out. Log in as an administrator - go to control panel, system,
advanced, user profiles, and see if you can copy the profile for the old
user to the new one.

Always good to have another domain controller running, even if it's an old
clunky box.
Also, get the server backups set up right so you're including everything
including system state! Tape is my favorite, but even an external USB
attached hard drive would've helped you....