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EXACTLY what is it you are trying to do? Migrate to a DIFFERENT domain? Just replace the hardware and stay on the same domain name?<br />
Both at the same time?<br />
<br />
Some clear details please.
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<div>
Replace the hardware and stay on the same domain name
</div>


<div>
Need to prepare your domain first for R2 then you can run dcpromo.<br />
Once everything is done, you can demote the first server.<br />
No need for 3rd party tools.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://smtp25.blogspot.com/2009/05/installing-windows-2008-r2-into.html" rel="ugc">http://smtp25.blogspot.com/2009/05/installing-windows-2008-r2-into.html</a>
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<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
I am trying to transfer an active directory role from an older Windows Server 2008 x86 machine to a new Windows Server 2008 R2 x64. I have never done an active directory transfer before and I need specific steps on how to do it, or if you know of any automated programs/toolkits that could help me out. <br />
<br />
I am going to try the Quest Migration Manager, but maybe there is a better process than this.
</div>
</div>


I am trying to transfer an active directory role from an older Windows Server 2008 x86 machine to a new Windows Server 2008 R2 x64. I have never done an active directory transfer before and I need specific steps on how to do it, or if you know of any automated programs/toolkits that could help me out. 

I am going to try the Quest Migration Manager, but maybe there is a better process than this.

EXACTLY what is it you are trying to do? Migrate to a DIFFERENT domain? Just replace the hardware and stay on the same domain name?
Both at the same time?

Some clear details please.

Replace the hardware and stay on the same domain name

Need to prepare your domain first for R2 then you can run dcpromo.
Once everything is done, you can demote the first server.
No need for 3rd party tools.

http://smtp25.blogspot.com/2009/05/installing-windows-2008-r2-into.html

Transfer Active Directory

Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2, based on the Microsoft Vista codebase, is the last 32-bit server operating system released by Microsoft. It has a number of versions, including including Foundation, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web, HPC Server, Itanium and Storage; new features included server core installation and Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008

Active Directory (AD) is a Microsoft brand for identity-related capabilities. In the on-premises world, Windows Server AD provides a set of identity capabilities and services, and is hugely popular (88% of Fortune 1000 and 95% of enterprises use AD). This topic includes all things Active Directory including DNS, Group Policy, DFS, troubleshooting, ADFS, and all other topics under the Microsoft AD and identity umbrella.

Active Directory

The Microsoft Server topic includes all of the legacy versions of the operating system, including the Windows NT 3.1, NT 3.5, NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 and Windows Home Server versions.