demoting pdc and bdc 1

[jfc1003]

I am setting up a network for three companies that have merged into one. We have a new domain, but we are bringing over antique pdc or bdc from each old office so that the billing department can wrap up old accounts. These machines are old!

How do I convert these servers to plain jane member servers so I can join them to the new Windows 2000 domain? I don't care if I have to reinstall windows over itself. But certain irreplaceable install disks are gone, so I cant just wipe them clean and reinstall.

Any ideas?

 

[djhawthorn]

Without third party software (uPromote I think is one) you can't demote a PDC/BDC to a member server, nor can they "join" an existing domain. They are locked into what they are, and into the domain they are a part of.

You can reinstall NT over the top (or alongside) the existing installation though to get it on the new domain. Note though, if you reinstall NT over the top (into the same directory), you will lose anything under \winnt\Profiles\ - in fact anything under \winnt\ will most likely be lost. MCSE NT4/W2K

 

[jfc1003]

If I do reinstall over itself, will installed programs still function? Or will it completely rewrite the registry. I looked at the Upromote....will see if the big guys want to pay for it.

Thanks!

 

[djhawthorn]

No, it trashes the registry as well.
You'd have to reinstall all your programs in order for them to work. MCSE NT4/W2K

 

[david902]

yay ! you can play with "Trust Relationships" between
the domains !!! lucky ! that is if you don't want to rebuild. or while you develop a migration plan to transfer services to the new domain.