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New PDC in Windows 2000

I currently have an old server that is running Windows 2000 Server, SP4. This server is our PDC. We are about to junk this server, it's very old and slow, so I need to promote one of my other servers, running Windows 2K, SP4, to our PDC. How do I do this?
Thanks,

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Hi gtimmons,

you will need to run dcpromo from the run prompt. but before you junk your old server you will need to transfer the fsmo roles over, i will find the ms docs

Hope This helps

or pete will answer you :)

Microtech,
:)
Pete

ASKER

I tried running DCPromo but it failed, said it could not initialize. The server I am going to be using is currently our DNS server, is that a problem?

the dns server is not a problem with promoting, but dns could be the problem when running dcpromo, what is the exact message you get when trying to run dcpromo?

ASKER

"The application failed to initialize properly (0Xc0000142). Click OK to terminate"

silly question but you are running as an admin?

ASKER

yes, logged on as administrator, not local admin but domain admin.

you could try and re-install sp4...

ASKER

Same issue, after re-installing SP4

But you must check the configuration of your DNS server again. Because the formal AD DNS, you should see four new child nodes: _msdcs, _sites, _tcp, and _udp in there... If not, you should rebuild DNS server before DCPromo.

I hope it can help.

my vote is on a DNS issue :) what is set as the DNS address on the server you are trying to promote?

ASKER

The DNS IP address is the IP address of the machine. 172.16.1.11, this is what is in the DNS field.

from command line

nslookup <name of the other domain controller>

nslookup <your domain name>

does it resolve?

ASKER

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator.DXCG.COM>nslookup dxcg
*** Can't find server name for address 172.16.1.11: Non-existent domain
*** Default servers are not available
Server: UnKnown
Address: 172.16.1.11

Name: dxcg.dxcg.com
Address: 172.16.1.2

C:\Documents and Settings\administrator.DXCG.COM>nslookup dxcg.com
*** Can't find server name for address 172.16.1.11: Non-existent domain
*** Default servers are not available
Server: UnKnown
Address: 172.16.1.11

Name: dxcg.com
Address: 172.16.1.2

add your domain name in the TCP/IP properties page of the server. Add a "A" record for it in the Forward lookup zone.
Question in you FLZ what is the record for the SOA?

ASKER

the domain name is already in my TCP setting, and the A record already exists. SOA primary server is naboo.dxcg.com.

ASKER

any ideas?

Gtinnons,
have you ran DCDIAG or NETDIAG on you DC? If not please do. They are on the cd under support tools.

They are easy to run and "CAN BE" very helpful.

Once you install the suport tools from the 2000 server disk. *just double click the MSI installer*
the at the CLI command line. type the command and /?. There is not alot to it but make sure you | to a file.

Run both of this and see what you have. Alot of the errors can be found in the MS knowledgebase, but please let me know what you get.

Good luck,
Kelo501

ASKER

I ran dcdiag and netdiag and both passed all tests. I then tried running dcpromo on a different machine and got the same initailization error.

can you add DNS to the DC?
set it up as AD intagrated.
I have a feeling that the other DNS server is notproviding the correct svr records for your domin.

How big is you enviroment? 10 users 100, 1000
Do you have exchange?
Are there over 50 shares?

It may be faster to bring up a new domain and migrate the accounts accross at this point with ADMT or CSVDE. Only if once DNS is in a known good configuration and we are still having the issue.

Let me look at something eles but try that. Setup dns on DC and point the machine you are trying to dcpromo to the DC for DNS

I forgot to send the other post before I went in seach of this...

please try this and let me know what you get.

At a command prompt, type nslookup, and then press ENTER.
Type set q=srv and press ENTER.
Type _ldap._tcp.FQDN where FQDN represents the domain controller's FQDN.

kelo501

ASKER

sorry, FQDN ?

ASKER

small environment, about 50 users. Yes, we have Exchange 2000, under 50 shares

ASKER

when I did the nslookup you suggested I got this:

dns1-access.svc.us.xo.net can't find _Ldap._tcp.dxcg.com: Non-existent domain.

ASKER

I did notice that my current PDC is Windows 2K SP3, not sure if that is affecting anything.

FQDN = fully qualified domain name example: noboo.dxcg.com server_name.domain.com

is this a 2000 sbs server?

ASKER

No, not a small business server.

ASKER

is there a specific way to tell if it is an SBS server?

ASKER

when I look under computer management and system info it says for OS: Microsoft Windows Powered

ASKER

Is it OK to have my Exchange server become the PCD or is this not recommended?

sure just run "winver" at the run line
start>run> "winver"

I would strongly recomend against making your exchange box a domain controller.

ThanQ