Downgrade my AD domain from windows 2003 enterprise edition to Standard edition

Sivaramm9

75 pts.

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Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition

Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition

Hi, As per my business team' cost cutting policy, i want to downgrade my windows 2003 enterprise edition to windows 2003 standard edition, i want to perform this while retaining my user accounts and group accounts, could any body tell me the process?, i have 1 root DC, 1 ADC, both are running in different sites with win2k3 enterprise editions

Asked: March 2, 2012 5:56 AM Last updated: March 5, 2012 10:04 AM

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Subhendu Sen Mar 2, 2012 7:08 AM GMT

See, it depends on what r running on the enterprise server 2003. Does it have exchange / sql running. As far as my knowledge, there is no downgrade path for wind 2003 ent to wind2003 standard.... clean / fresh Installation is necessary. It is better to use ntbackup (u can backups everything!) & then fresh install after that apply restore. It may be very complex, if u r running many apps. See here MS reference for ntbackup. There r other way to do the same, but I feel comfortable to use this. It is best to do the same entire task in a Test environment and after getting success, then apply to the production env. This is for ur idea only.

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Sivaramm9 Mar 5, 2012 5:15 AM GMT

Thanks Mr Rechil, but i dont have any applications like MS Sql, Exchange server running in my enterprise, Can i do one thing, can i install one system as a standard edition, and then transfer these FSMO rools on this server and after that 1 week observation i can remove enterprise editions, will it work?, please suggest..

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Subhendu Sen Mar 5, 2012 10:04 AM GMT

Fine, if u don't have apps, (what u mentioned), then it is quiet easy 4 u. What u thought, it is OK ! and u can try it on one system. As I suggested, do the task in test environment and then implement in prod env after getting success (it is more safe and actual process). Mentioned earlier, fresh / clean installation is necessary. Go ahead and do as u planned. If necessary, u can follow the link, what I provided.

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