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Did you uninstall Exchange first?
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Exchange installed but we don't need exchange since the email server is online in cloud.
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Exchange installed but we don't need exchange since the email server is online in cloud.

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Even if you weren't using Exchange, there are files that are protected by the OS and there are entry points in AD that refer to the Exchange server. You *must* uninstall Exchange before running dcpromo. Otherwise, at best, you end up with a messy AD infrastructure and removing Exchange references in an unsupported fashion, and at worst the dcpromo fails.
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Even if you weren't using Exchange, there are files that are protected by the OS and there are entry points in AD that refer to the Exchange server. You *must* uninstall Exchange before running dcpromo. Otherwise, at best, you end up with a messy AD infrastructure and removing Exchange references in an unsupported fashion, and at worst the dcpromo fails.

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I found that SQL servers were causing the delay for me at that point. I shut down the SQL server instances and it progressed.
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I found that SQL servers were causing the delay for me at that point. I shut down the SQL server instances and it progressed.

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We have a old SBS 2003 and We purchased a new server with windows 2008 R2.<br />
I added windows server 2008 R2 as a DC and then I moved FSMO rules .<br />
<br />
I tried to demote DC on SBS server but it stuck on securing c:\program files and it doesn't go forward ( it is almost 4 hours) Please check the attach file.<br />
<br />
I am wondering if there is something wrong with my migration. <br />
<br />
New server is working fine now and has all rules.<br />
<br />
Any idea ?<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2013/05_w21/655615/Carhuff.bmp" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="DC removal (1.7 MB)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>Carhuff.bmp</a>
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Carhuff.bmp

We have a old SBS 2003 and We purchased a new server with windows 2008 R2.
I added windows server 2008 R2 as a DC and then I moved FSMO rules .

I tried to demote DC on SBS server but it stuck on securing c:\program files and it doesn't go forward ( it is almost 4 hours) Please check the attach file.

I am wondering if there is something wrong with my migration. 

New server is working fine now and has all rules.

Any idea ?

Migrating From windows SBS server 2003 to windows server 2008 R2

Small Business Server (SBS) is a line of server operating systems targeted at small businesses by bundling the operating system with a number of other Microsoft products that would normally need to be purchased or licensed separately. The most notable inclusions are Exchange, SQL Server, SharePoint and ISA/TMG (Microsoft's firewall and proxy server).

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.