How to transfer data from one server to another that keeps all shares and permissions intact

Copy the files with robocopy.exe form the ResKit Tools, it will allow you to copy the permissions; check the robocopy.doc file in the installation folder for details.
Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9D467A69-57FF-4AE7-96EE-B18C4790CFFD&displaylang=en

The shares can be moved over with the help of this article (assuming you have the exact same drive name and folder structure):
Saving and restoring existing Windows shares
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=125996

Great.  How do you use robocopy, is it straight forward..?

Basically, I have a partition which is called Vol1 (D:) which has about 37Gb of data.  I have a partition created on the new server called Vol1 (E:) and basically I need to copy everything across to the new server.  How do i use robocopy to do this..?

hmmm, thats useful.  To keep everything simple I should really change the new servers Vol! partition to D should i?  This way when I do the copy as you have stated above, all the shares will come across, is that right? Or do i still have to do an import from the regsitry?

actually, what is the easiest way of labelling these drives?

You'll still have to export/import the registry files as described in the article above; robocopy won't copy any shares, only files.
The drive letter can be assigned in the Computer Management Console; make sure the current D drive can be renamed (that is, for example, there are no programs installed on it) before giving it a new letter (a CD/DVD won't mind ...)!
Or just do a Search/Replace run with the reg file in Notepad.

when I use robocopy d:\ \\fbspdc001\d$ /copy:datso it aonly copys the files across not the folders, is there a way to copy EVERYTHING within D$..?

you can use the built in command xcopy /o.  



XCOPY source [destination] [/A | /M] [/D[:date]] [/P] [/S [/E]] [/V] [/W]
                           [/C] [/I] [/Q] [/F] [/L] [/G] [/H] [/R] [/T] [/U]
                           [/K] [/N] [/O] [/X] [/Y] [/-Y] [/Z]
                           [/EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...]

  source       Specifies the file(s) to copy.
  destination  Specifies the location and/or name of new files.
  /A           Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
               doesn't change the attribute.
  /M           Copies only files with the archive attribute set,
               turns off the archive attribute.
  /D:m-d-y     Copies files changed on or after the specified date.
               If no date is given, copies only those files whose
               source time is newer than the destination time.
  /EXCLUDE:file1[+file2][+file3]...
               Specifies a list of files containing strings.  Each string
               should be in a separate line in the files.  When any of the
               strings match any part of the absolute path of the file to be
               copied, that file will be excluded from being copied.  For
               example, specifying a string like \obj\ or .obj will exclude
               all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the
               .obj extension respectively.
  /P           Prompts you before creating each destination file.
  /S           Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
  /E           Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones.
               Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
  /V           Verifies each new file.
  /W           Prompts you to press a key before copying.
  /C           Continues copying even if errors occur.
  /I           If destination does not exist and copying more than one file,
               assumes that destination must be a directory.
  /Q           Does not display file names while copying.
  /F           Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
  /L           Displays files that would be copied.
  /G           Allows the copying of encrypted files to destination that does
               not support encryption.
  /H           Copies hidden and system files also.
  /R           Overwrites read-only files.
  /T           Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not
               include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes
               empty directories and subdirectories.
  /U           Copies only files that already exist in destination.
  /K           Copies attributes. Normal Xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
  /N           Copies using the generated short names.
  /O           Copies file ownership and ACL information.
  /X           Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
  /Y           Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
               existing destination file.
  /-Y          Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an
               existing destination file.
  /Z           Copies networked files in restartable mode.

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable.
This may be overridden with /-Y on the command line.

so in my case I should do the following
xcopy \\fbspdc01\d$ d:\d$ /e

is that right?

will this bring across all the permissions and security attributes. i know an import of the registry may bring this across

I just need to know here which command IS the right one.

many thanks

what aboiut

robocopy \\fbspdc01\d$ d:\ /e /copyall

is that ok..?

the xcopy command you have to do it from the source machine.

for example the files are located at  abc server and you want to copy it xyz sever.



xcopy d:\foldername \\xyzserver\d$ /e /o

u need to o switch.

Add a "/e" to the arguments:
robocopy d:\ \\fbspdc001\d$ /copy:datso /e