Fixing domain name

A few years ago when I installed a Win2K Server, I mistakenly created the
domain as "ab.abc.com" when I really wanted it to be "abc.com".

I am now replacing the server with Windows Server 2003 on a new machine.
The two servers must overlap in time on the network so that I have time for
application migration, etc. How do I promote the new server to the PDC _and_
fix up the domain name? Or, should I just start from scratch creating the
domain with the correct name? Before this new server there was - and after
the migration there will be - only one server in existance in the domain.

BTW, This is the second time that I've done something like this wrong. On
another occasion, I ended up with a domain named abc.abc.com when, of course,
I really wanted abc.com. Any ideas what my misunderstanding was when I
created these domain names in the first place? Clearly, I answered some
question incorrectly and I must avoid doing this again.

Any help and advice is grgeatly appreciated.

Thanks and regards,

David

Meinolf
Wed Mar 26 15:11:42 PDT 2008

Hello DJPogoff djpogoff_at_complexNOSPAMnet_dot_com,

Because you have no clients and users, just start from scratch, less work
then using ADMT v3. Ofcourse if you like to learn then use ADMT v3:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6f86937b-533a-466d-a8e8-aff85ad3d212&displaylang=en

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
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> A few years ago when I installed a Win2K Server, I mistakenly created
> the domain as "ab.abc.com" when I really wanted it to be "abc.com".
>
> I am now replacing the server with Windows Server 2003 on a new
> machine. The two servers must overlap in time on the network so that
> I have time for application migration, etc. How do I promote the new
> server to the PDC _and_ fix up the domain name? Or, should I just
> start from scratch creating the domain with the correct name? Before
> this new server there was - and after the migration there will be -
> only one server in existance in the domain.
>
> BTW, This is the second time that I've done something like this wrong.
> On another occasion, I ended up with a domain named abc.abc.com when,
> of course, I really wanted abc.com. Any ideas what my
> misunderstanding was when I created these domain names in the first
> place? Clearly, I answered some question incorrectly and I must avoid
> doing this again.
>
> Any help and advice is grgeatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks and regards,
>
> David
>

NitinK
Wed Mar 26 15:20:00 PDT 2008

Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Domain Rename Tools & Documentation
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/downloads/winsrvr/domainrename.mspx

Webcasts

TechNet Support WebCast: Renaming domains when Microsoft Exchange Server
2003 is in the Active Directory
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=838623

Support WebCast: Microsoft Windows Server 2003: Implementing an Active
Directory
Domain Rename Operation
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;819145>

--
Nitin K


"DJPogoff" wrote:

> A few years ago when I installed a Win2K Server, I mistakenly created the
> domain as "ab.abc.com" when I really wanted it to be "abc.com".
>
> I am now replacing the server with Windows Server 2003 on a new machine.
> The two servers must overlap in time on the network so that I have time for
> application migration, etc. How do I promote the new server to the PDC _and_
> fix up the domain name? Or, should I just start from scratch creating the
> domain with the correct name? Before this new server there was - and after
> the migration there will be - only one server in existance in the domain.
>
> BTW, This is the second time that I've done something like this wrong. On
> another occasion, I ended up with a domain named abc.abc.com when, of course,
> I really wanted abc.com. Any ideas what my misunderstanding was when I
> created these domain names in the first place? Clearly, I answered some
> question incorrectly and I must avoid doing this again.
>
> Any help and advice is grgeatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks and regards,
>
> David

Jorge
Wed Mar 26 15:19:10 PDT 2008

Hi
-Domain rename is only possible when the Forest Level is at 2003, meaning
that all DCs must be 2003. It should be planned carefully, you can find in
MS websites documents about domain rename procedure.
-Yes, the PDC(emulator) can be transferred. Generally when some of the DCs
that has tat and other roles is removed from domain using dcpromo, the
process should be automatic and the roles should be transferred to another
available DC, however you can do it manually if you want.
-From scratch or rename the existing domain?? That can be a tuff decision,
is up to you to decide what is best in your scenario or what represents less
danger for your network, and users, down time etc...
--
I hope that the information above helps you.
Have a Nice day.

Jorge Silva
MCSE, MVP Directory Services