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SBS 2003 restore from only Systemstate Backup

Hello,

I am restoring a SBS 2003 server for which I have the following:

- ONLY systemstate and Exchange backup
- old hard drive with system files, program files, data (all accessible)

Is it possible to restore only systemstate after the 1st CD installation and then somehow merge the old programfiles with the new install and restore the server this way?

In a nutshell, am I able to restore SBS 2003 with only a systemstate backup and a copy of its program files and system directories from its old hard drive?

Thanks!

P.S. Just to add that I am restoring on the same hardware, only hard drives are new and are bigger in size than old ones.

SOLUTION

Rob Williams

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durge

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Rob Williams

Good question. I don't think so. With server std that would restore AD but may or may not work properly.
However with SBS to restore you need to install SBS and all service packs (same as previous server) then restore from back up media. Just installing the first CD and then system state would require completing SBS install afterward which would then destroy the existing AD....as I understand it.
It is a licensing violation not to install complete SBS and the server may go into it's infamous "time bomb" mode after 7 days if you don't.

durge

ASKER

sorry I forgot to clarify. We want to install a fresh working sbs 2003, go through the wizard and set up a temporary AD. Then restore systemstate

Rob Williams

To be honest I don't know how far that will get you with SBS. Perhaps others have tried.

durge

ASKER

restoring to a RSG wasnt so easy. Had to use third party tools to do that