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How do I migrate my domain from my NT4 server to my Win2k server and Active Directory?

I'm planning a migration from one server with NT4 (PDC) to another new server with Windows 2000 (to be AD). The old machine is not to be upgraded to Win2k. I need to make the new machine take over the domain. How do I organize this?

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If you want to migrate the domain to Active Directory you have two choices in this case:
  1. Install the new server as a Windows NT 4.0 BDC, promote to a PDC and then upgrade to Windows 2000/AD.

  2. The other solution (and the one I think you will like better in this case), is to use DCPROMO on the Windows 2000 server to create a Windows 2000 Active Directory. Then, use the Active Directory Migration Tool (ADMT) to migrate the users, groups, etc. from the old Windows NT domain to the new AD infrastructure.

Of course, the second choice may take you a little longer -- but you will end up with a Windows 2000 environment that is cleaner, and if you've done your homework, will be better suited for your business.

This was first published in July 2002

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