ddawsonw
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Should I Demote Old SBS server
Over the weekend I migrated Windows 2003 SBS to new equipment by following the Microsoft Migration document. The last step in the document is to demote the old server. This server has been taken off the network already and will not be used any longer. I was hoping to leave the old server intact though instead of demoting it. I know with SBS that you cannot have 2 domain controllers on the network. Since the old server has been turned off and is no longer on the network, I am wondering if I can skip demoting it. Or will the 7 day time limit kick in on the new server anyway and cause problems?
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Thank you for both comments. It sounds like I need to demote the old server for the purpose of cleaning up the AD on the new server. I have been a little concerned about turning the old server back on. But it sounds like this is the way to go. Thanks.
you can extend the 7 day grace period to 21 days if you want to: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943494/en-us
But you will need to demote it eventually or else the old server won't let you logon until you do so (Much like Windows Activation after 30 days).
But you will need to demote it eventually or else the old server won't let you logon until you do so (Much like Windows Activation after 30 days).
You should demote it for one very simple reason - you clean up AD - right now, AD thinks you have two DCs. If you demote it, you'll only have one and there won't be garbage/bad data in the AD.