Neutralize Windows NT 4.0 Domain Controller Emulation
Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2
On all additional domain controllers, you must be sure to neutralize Windows NT 4.0 emulation before installing Active Directory. When deploying additional domain controllers, the computers must be able to contact an Active Directory domain controller during the installation of Active Directory. If the Active Directory domain controllers that you have already upgraded have been configured to protect against domain controller overload by setting the value of the NT4Emulator registry entry to one, the additional domain controllers will only recognize them as Windows NT 4.0–based domain controllers and the Active Directory installation will fail.
Caution
- The registry editor bypasses standard safeguards, allowing settings that can damage your system, or even require you to reinstall Windows. If you must edit the registry, back it up first and see the Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Registry Reference.
To neutralize Windows NT 4.0 emulation
In the registry editor, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Netlogon\Parameters
Click Edit, click New, and then click DWORD Value.
For the new entry name, type NeutralizeNT4Emulator, and then press ENTER.
Double-click the entry name that you typed in the previous step.
In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, type 1 in the Value data: box, and then click OK.
Click Registry, and then click Exit to close the registry editor.
You can also administer Windows Server 2003–based domain controllers that have been configured to emulate a Windows NT 4.0–based domain controller from a workstation running Windows 2000 or Windows XP. If you intend to use a management workstation that is running Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you must first neutralize the emulation mode on the management workstation so that Windows Server 2003–based domain controllers will respond to it.