Hi, Ensure the existing 2000 DC with SP4 Add the 2003 server to the 2000 domain as a member server Copy I386 folder from 2003 server CD to 2000 server run (from that i386 folder) adprep /forestprep ( on the server which holding schema operations master ) and adprep /domainprep ( on the server which holding infrastructure master ) run DCPromo on the 2003 server to promote to DC But check your 2000 AD with netdiag.exe, dcdiag.exe, and replmon.exe (all from the Support Tools) before you start. Unless you get an error free result from dcdiag as well as netdiag, you basically don't need to bother with the upgrade. for your refernence giving you the usefull links below. HOW TO: Use the Network Diagnostics Tool (Netdiag.exe) in Windows 2000 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321708 Do not install the Support Tools from your installation CD, some tools were updates by the Service Packs. Here's the current version: Windows 2000 SP4 Support Tools http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/SP4/supporttools.asp Cure netdiag or dcdiag errors with those: 10 DNS Errors That Will Kill Your Network http://www.mstraining.com/misc/10_dns_errors_that_will_kill_you.htm Frequently Asked Questions About Windows 2000 DNS and Windows Server 2003 DNS http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=291382 Best practices for DNS client settings in Windows 2000 Server and in Windows Server 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=825036 Uninstall the Support Tools before upgrading; here's the 2003 SP1 version for after the upgrade: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 32-bit Support Tools http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6ec50b78-8be1-4e81-b3be-4e7ac4f0912d&displaylang=en Cannot Promote a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller into a Windows 2000 Forest http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=278875 Windows Server 2003 Help Files Contain Incorrect Information About How to Update a Windows 2000 Domain http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=821076 Operations That Are Performed by the Adprep.exe Utility When You Add a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller to a Windows 2000 Domain or Forest http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309628 Hotfixes to Install on Windows 2000 Domain Controllers Before Running Adprep /Forestprep http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=331161 Windows Server 2003 adprep /forestprep Command Causes Mangled Attributes in Windows 2000 Forests That Contain Exchange 2000 Servers http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314649 Support WebCast: Microsoft Windows Server 2003: Upgrading Windows 2000 Domains to Windows Server 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=812954 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/ Designing and Deploying Directory and Security Services Upgrading Windows 2000 Domains to Windows Server 2003 Domains http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/DSSBF_UPWN_OVERVIEW.asp All the best... Thanks Vlvpk

Hi, Ensure the existing 2000 DC with SP4 Add the 2003 server to the 2000 domain as a member server Copy I386 folder from 2003 server CD to 2000 server run (from that i386 folder) adprep /forestprep ( on the server which holding schema operations master ) and adprep /domainprep ( on the server which holding infrastructure master ) run DCPromo on the 2003 server to promote to DC But check your 2000 AD with netdiag.exe, dcdiag.exe, and replmon.exe (all from the Support Tools) before you start. Unless you get an error free result from dcdiag as well as netdiag, you basically don't need to bother with the upgrade. for your refernence giving you the usefull links below. HOW TO: Use the Network Diagnostics Tool (Netdiag.exe) in Windows 2000 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321708 Do not install the Support Tools from your installation CD, some tools were updates by the Service Packs. Here's the current version: Windows 2000 SP4 Support Tools http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/downloads/servicepacks/SP4/supporttools.asp Cure netdiag or dcdiag errors with those: 10 DNS Errors That Will Kill Your Network http://www.mstraining.com/misc/10_dns_errors_that_will_kill_you.htm Frequently Asked Questions About Windows 2000 DNS and Windows Server 2003 DNS http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=291382 Best practices for DNS client settings in Windows 2000 Server and in Windows Server 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=825036 Uninstall the Support Tools before upgrading; here's the 2003 SP1 version for after the upgrade: Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 32-bit Support Tools http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6ec50b78-8be1-4e81-b3be-4e7ac4f0912d&displaylang=en Cannot Promote a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller into a Windows 2000 Forest http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=278875 Windows Server 2003 Help Files Contain Incorrect Information About How to Update a Windows 2000 Domain http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=821076 Operations That Are Performed by the Adprep.exe Utility When You Add a Windows Server 2003 Domain Controller to a Windows 2000 Domain or Forest http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309628 Hotfixes to Install on Windows 2000 Domain Controllers Before Running Adprep /Forestprep http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=331161 Windows Server 2003 adprep /forestprep Command Causes Mangled Attributes in Windows 2000 Forests That Contain Exchange 2000 Servers http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314649 Support WebCast: Microsoft Windows Server 2003: Upgrading Windows 2000 Domains to Windows Server 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=812954 Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Deployment Kit http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/ Designing and Deploying Directory and Security Services Upgrading Windows 2000 Domains to Windows Server 2003 Domains http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/WindowsServ/2003/all/deployguide/en-us/DSSBF_UPWN_OVERVIEW.asp All the best... Thanks Vlvpk