Ok, here we go. I have a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller that is running out of disk space on the system partition. (Thanks again Dell). I want to repartition the hard drive to use all of the physical drive as the C drive.
Configuration:
Windows Server 2003 Sp2 and all current updates
Hard drive 0 – partitioned into two partions, (C=12GB, D=22GB). D is empty.
Hard drive 1 – Mirror of drive 0
Services:
Second Domain Controller in the Domain
Sharepoint Services (small internal Website)
DNS (AD Integrated)
My goal:
Repartiton Drive 0 to use all of the physcal space for the OS using the tools at hand.
My plan:
1. Perform Backup of C drive and System State using NTBackup – done, no errors.
2. Break mirror – done
3. Remove drive 0 (bootable C drive). This will be retained so I can go back to where I started in case something goes terribly wrong.
4. Move Drive 1 into drive 0 slot. (Put drive 0 in the other room for safe keeping).
4. Reinstall Windows Server 2003 on (new) drive 0. (Do I need to apply all updates and sevice packs before proceeding with the next step)?
5. Do a restore using NTBackup (this is where it fails, hence the need for the original drive 0 I saved in the other room).
Now I’ve tried following the steps in how to reinstall/restore from backup a domain controller from Microsoft articles and they don’t work. I think they are missing a step in the process or it isn’t being described correctly. I’ve tried variations of those steps. I’ve tried using the same name as the original DC and I’ve tried different names. I’ve tried doing the restore in directory services restore mode and normal mode. I’ve tried keeping all files (recommended), replacing files older, and replacing all files during the restore process. Nothing seems to work. This shouldn’t be rocket science, yet if this can be done, something in the process is eluding me. Is there anyone who can tell me step by step how this can be done?
I suppose I could just DCPromo the fresh install using the same name and let it non-authoritatively restore from the other Domain controller, but that won’t bring the Share Point website back and I don’t feel like recreating it manually. I’m also unclear to the procedure for doing this.
A couple of links describe that I should remove the old DC from Active Directory before bringing the new one (with the same name) online or there will be problems with AD. Other links didn’t mention this procedure. In fact they said the new domain controller (with the same name) will just get the replication from the other DC as if nothing changed.
I need to find a solution to this because I’m sure it will be more complicated when I need to do this to the Primary DC.
Any help would be greatly appreciated and If you live close enough I’ll buy you a beer.