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upgrading member server in 2000 AD domain to 2003 fails

i am trying to upgrade the windows 2000 domain to 2003 and have decided to follow the method where a 2003 member server is upgraded to a domain controller, thereby converting the domain to 2003, after which I can upgrade the 2000 servers in place.

I have successfully installed the InetOrgPerson LDAP fix
I have successfuly run the adprep/forestprep as well as the domainprep without error and from the 2003 CD kit
DCDIAG shows no errors
ADSI edit shows the objects indicating a forest upgrade
if i attempt to rerun the adprep command, i get an error telling me that the domain schema has already been extended.

some facts:

I have 2 Domain controllers, 1 Exchange 2000 server, several member servers. All 2000 servers running SP4. The primary domain controller is the operations master, schema master, etc. Replication has taken place between both servers, without error.

at one time, very long ago, this was an NT4.0 domain which was upgraded to 2000. the original domain controllers have long since been retired from service. The domain is running in Native Mode.

the 2003 server is R2 Enterprise.

when the DCPROMO wizard runs, it completes with the error:

The Active Directory Installation Wizard cannot continue because the forest is not prepared for installing Windows Server 2003. Use the adprep command-line tool to prepare the forest and the domain.

This version of the Active Directory schema of the source forest is not compatible with the version of Active Directory on this computer

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Jay_Jay70

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Lee W, MVP

Jay_Jay has probably given you your answer, but you might want to review some of these other links, just to make sure you haven't missed something:

Common Mistakes When Upgrading a Windows 2000 Domain To a Windows 2003 Domain
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555040

Hotfixes to install before you run adprep /Forestprep on a Windows 2000 domain controller to prepare the Forest and domains for the addition of Windows Server 2003-based domain controllers
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=331161

Commodore.ca | Windows | How To Upgrade Windows 2000 Domain to Windows 2003 Server
Quote from the top of this article: "Several glossy Microsoft presenters have stated that all you need to do to complete a Windows 2003 Domain upgrade is run ADPREP and then upgrade away. This may work for very small / simple environments but it is definitely not good advice for most companies. After upgrading five servers in two unrelated domains and installing many fresh copies of 2003 I can say that I personally would not skip a single step in the process I have developed below."
http://www.commodore.ca/windows/windows_2003_upgrade.htm

How can I transfer some or all of the FSMO Roles from one DC to another?
http://www.petri.co.il/transferring_fsmo_roles.htm

How To Create or Move a Global Catalog in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=313994

[If you run Exchange 2000] Windows Server 2003 adprep /forestprep Command Causes Mangled Attributes in Windows 2000 Forests That Contain Exchange 2000 Servers
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=314649

Windows Server 2003 Upgrade Assistance Center
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/upgrading/nt4/upgradeassistance/default.mspx

[If using R2 release of Windows 2003] Extending Your Active Directory Schema for New Features in Windows Server 2003 R2
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=5B73CF03-84DD-480F-98F9-526EC09E9BA8&displaylang=en

How to move a DHCP database from a computer that is running Windows NT Server 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows Server 2003 to a computer that is running Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=325473

How can I move a DHCP database from one server to another?
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/13473/13473.html

How can I move DNS from one Windows 2000 Server to another Windows 2000 Server?
(Two Related if going 2000 to 2003 - read both before moving)
http://www.jsifaq.com/subG/TIP3300/rh3357.htm
http://www.jsifaq.com/SUBN/tip6700/rh6731.htm

exiscapital

ASKER

thanks for the insight! i will definitely check them out, and get back to you in the next 2 days. i was using technet and some of the books online in safari.oreilly.com as my guide to getting the job done. clearly, the community has the edge here.......

Lee W, MVP

None of my links were of use to you?

Jay_Jay70

Thanks mate :-)