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I also suggest putting a second DC and keeping it up for good.
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I also suggest putting a second DC and keeping it up for good.

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Agreed. Take a System State backup anyway but use it as a last resort if you can't get a second DC to replicate.
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Agreed. Take a System State backup anyway but use it as a last resort if you can't get a second DC to replicate.

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So this is a single drive DC?
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Thank you. This worked well
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Due to some hardware errors on the SATA drive, I need to backup and restore AD as immediately as possible.<br />
<br />
I tried imaging the drive but was unsuccessful due to bad clusters.<br />
<br />
Can I run a systemestate backup and perform a FULL domain controller restore so i don't have to remove and rejoin all computers to freshly installed domain controller? and so i don't have to create all accounts and passwords from scratch?<br />
<br />
I would appreciate some feedback and links on how to do this step by step.
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Due to some hardware errors on the SATA drive, I need to backup and restore AD as immediately as possible.

I tried imaging the drive but was unsuccessful due to bad clusters.

Can I run a systemestate backup and perform a FULL domain controller restore so i don't have to remove and rejoin all computers to freshly installed domain controller? and so i don't have to create all accounts and passwords from scratch?

I would appreciate some feedback and links on how to do this step by step.

Backup and Restore domain controller

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 term "Backup" means the methods and processes involved to copy computer data (system data as well as application data) to media other than the ones where the data originally live (disk, tape, optical, cloud). "Restore" in turn means the methods and processes involved in data recovery, i. e., bringing back copied computer data to their original location. Backup/Restore primarily serves as a means of protection against data loss, be it due to disaster, corruption or sabotage. It can also be used for recovering data from an earlier point in time and even for cloning machines or applications. There is a wide variety of backup/restore software available, from expensive commercial products to free or open source tools.

Storage Software

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.