restore active directory

[Alexis Crawford]

Hello,

We would like to restore an Exchange database as a test
drill. The production Xchange server is running on a 4600
Poweredge and the DC is running on an IBM e-server. After
repeated failed attempts to restore the AD using ntbackup
and system state (because i am restoring to different
hardware)I have no choice but to come here and pray for
someone to point me in the right direction.
Since i cannot restore AD i simply do not know how to
proceed. Exchange needs Active Directory to function and i
cannot restore it from backup. Could i perhaps install AD
on the test server , make it join the domain and wait for
replication to occur and then unplug it from the network?
What must i do the latter will be the last resort)

Please help,

Alexis

 

[Matjaz Ladava [MVP]]

After you restore your system state do an upgrade over existing installation
with Windows 2000 Server CD (not repair). This should bring your server back
to life. Re-Apply latest SP on DC. After that make sure, that the server is
a GC, has all FSMO roles and clean all orphaned DC's from AD (metadata
cleanup).
There is also a QArticle on this one at
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=263532

--
Regards

Matjaz Ladava, MCSE, MCSA, MCT, MVP
Microsoft MVP - Active Directory
(e-mail address removed), (e-mail address removed)
http://ladava.com

 

[Alexis Crawford]

Hello and thanks for the reply,

I've installed a fresh copy of W2K server on the test
server (separate VLAN)and imported the system state of the
W2K production server. Rebooted the server and the result
is: the system stops responding in Start Windows Normally
Mode and in Safe Mode. I do a cold reboot and boot from
the W2K server cd and install 3rd party scsi drivers and
at no point in the installation does it prompt me for an
Upgrade to W2K. It does though prompt me to do a repair so
I do and the result is that I get a blue screen on both
modes after the repair is complete.
Please help,

Alexis