Upgrade Windows NT 4.0 BDCs
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
You can upgrade any Windows NT 4.0 BDC to a Windows Server 2003–based domain controller as long as it meets the hardware requirements for a domain controller running Windows Server 2003. For more information about the hardware requirements for Windows Server 2003–based domain controllers, see "Planning Domain Controller Capacity" in this book.
Before upgrading the operating system to Windows Server 2003, use the Winnt32.exe command-line tool to detect any upgrade problems. This tool reports potential upgrade problems, such as inadequate hardware resources or compatibility problems.
To determine potential upgrade problems
At the command line, connect to the I386 directory located at your installation source and type the following command:
winnt32 /checkupgradeonly
Resolve reported problems before performing the upgrade.
To install the operating system on the computer, insert the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD in the CD-ROM drive of the domain controller and select the option to install the operating system, or use an automated installation method. If the Windows Server 2003 media is shared on the network, run the Winnt32.exe command.
To complete the operating system installation, perform these tasks:
Select Upgrade for the Installation type.
Use NTFS to convert the partitions. The installation of Active Directory will not succeed if you do not have at least one NTFS partition available on which to locate the SYSVOL shared folder.
Verify that you are using a static IP address.
On the first additional domain controller upgraded, configure DNS client settings by using the IP address of the PDC for the Preferred DNS server setting and do not specify an IP address in the Alternate DNS server setting.
On all remaining domain controllers that are upgraded, configure DNS client settings by using the IP address of the PDC for the Preferred DNS server setting and use the IP address of the second domain controller upgraded for the Alternate DNS server setting.
These DNS client settings are temporary and will be changed during the installation of Active Directory.
Install Windows Support Tools, which are available in the \Support\Tools folder on the Windows Server 2003 operating system CD.
During the operating system upgrade the computer will restart three times. After the computer restarts for the last time, the Welcome to the Active Directory Installation Wizard appears.