Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of laurencoull
laurencoull

asked on

Re-joining domain on new server SBS2003

SBS2003 server crashed and had to start over with full re-install from scratch, giving it same computer name, same domain name & same IP address as before.
Everything went ok and didn't take too long to re-create users, shared folders, etc, so hasn't been too stressful so far.
But where I do foresee stress is when I put it back in situ and attempt to log each pc onto the network (all XP machines except one Win7). From past experience, even though the server name, domain name & Ip address are as before, I've found the workstations seem to want to join a new domain and refuse to log in. Having never known any other way (if there is another way), what I've had to do is:
Go round each workstation, run the Windows File & Settings Transfer wizard to gather the data from the user's profile;
then unjoin it from the domain;
then log them into the re-built server;
then join them to the new domain, even though to all intents & purposes it's the same domain;
then, as a new blank profile gets created called <username.domain.001>, run the Windows File & Settings Transfer wizard to restore the data from the user's original profile.
Not to mention having to Export & re-Import all their emails into Outlook, as this never seems to get catered for by the Windows File & Settings Transfer wizard.
Surely there must be a shortcut to this ridiculously long and tedious task?
(Obviously I'm aware there is a SBS2003 migration process for, say replacing the server with a new one, but this isn't possible in this instance as I had to re-go from scratch on same server).
SOLUTION
Avatar of davorin
davorin
Flag of Slovenia image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Hi,

You can try the following;

1. Boot machine unattached to the network.
2. Log in as local admin.
3. Open a copy of explorer and make sure show hidden files is on.
4. Open system control panel.
5. Go to profile managment.
6. Select the user's profile from the list. Select to copy it.
7. Specify the target as "C:\documenats and settings\.default".
8. Add machine to new domain.

Log in as the new domain user, the users previous profile settings will be copied to their new profile.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Avatar of laurencoull
laurencoull

ASKER

Hi radhakrishnon2007
Sorry, not seeing Profile Management in Control Panel?
"profile management" is in control panel under system properties->advanced->user profiles->settings (XP)

W7: control panel-> system->advanced system settings->advanced ->user profiles->settings
Hi,

Have you tried it from control panel: System and Security – System – Advanced System Settings>>User Profiles.

http://www.irongeek.com/i.php?page=security/windows-7-copy-default-profile
Ya wanna save yourself the hassle next time?

Get an image based backup like Acronis Symantec or Storagecrft.

Restore is a breeze and you won't have to go through the hassle of rejoining every body back to the domain.
Ah, found it, thanks!
SOLUTION
Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
The trouble,is that a lot of small businesses see this as an additive cost when they've been told the SBS server has everything bundled in.

Having worked for companies where down time is $100k per minute,the bean counters get the added cost value.

Where as mom and pop places do not.

When somebody has to come in and rebuild a server @ $100 bucks an hour and it takes 12 hours,that $500 buck upfront cost would seem like a bargain in hindsight.
$100k/minute ?????  Mmmmmmm...
I disagree... I think the problem is more that small businesses don't understand how much money in terms of lost productivity and lost sales revenue is involved with an outage.  VERY FEW small businesses have done the math to see that $500 or $1000 or even $10,000 depending on what they do is a worthwhile investment to ensure they continue running with as minimal downtime as possible.  Do the math for them - help them "simulate" the outage in their mind and what they or their employees would do with things down and I think more would be willing to implement proper redundancies and backups. (Not all - backup and redundancy *IS* insurance and just like some people think it's ok to drive without insurance, some people will think it's ok to run a business without it too, but MOST will - when they understand - opt for SOME level of insurance).
And one of the problems is the self-centered attitude that some vendors can have.  Just look at SBS... they wanted SBS to be easy enough for the non-tech to install so they could sell more copies... logical... but they are doing a disservice to the client by FOCUSING on those people... The client using SBS often doesn't have the IT experience and knowledge a pro would to help the client understand all the things involved in ensuring their business is as productive as possible when using Technology.  Half the time (probably FAR MORE) Smaller businesses are trying to do everything themselves thinking they will save money when, in fact, they are WASTING money because they are not optimizing things and ensuring their systems are setup properly so they are not losing money, opportunities by exploiting technology features, or putting themselves at an unnecessary risk.
Managed to download ProfWiz ok & read right through the manual before proceeding to use it for real. It ran exactly as documented, however after selecting the correct profile I wanted, it didn't link it to the new profile: After re-booting, all I had was an empty profile. Tried again- same. So I had to spend all day doing it the long way. Pity, it looked such a promising piece of software too.
The profwiz manual is quite lengthy and only 10% of it applies to the free wizard tool we recommended.  The simple, SBS specific instructions were outlined in the link I provided earlier:
http://blog.lan-tech.ca/2011/05/19/sbs-and-profwiz/

I have never had it fail.  Might you have taken different steps?
A point to note, if the existing profile name was jdoe and the new user name is johndoe it will not change the local profile name.  Profwiz basically edits all permissions of the existing profile to be used with the new user account.  Is it possible it completed but you didn’t think so as the profile name didn’t change?
The profile name was the same before & after
Perhaps I missed a step
I do recall one issue I had to wrestle with was at what stage to re-boot, as this wasn't explicit in the notes. But doubt if that would have been the problem
Never mind, I might try it again sometime
It should tell you when you have to reboot, immediately after you click finish.  It takes a while for it to change all permissions, especially if a large profile, perhaps you did not wait until complete.