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How to migrate from domain back to workgroup?
romand
Member Posts: 21 ■□□□□□□□□□
Hi all,
I have a question related to Microsoft 2003 server environment. I need to migrate back from domain controller to plain workgroup. What should be done to to make it work. I am interested just from Microsoft prospectives, meaning users, group policy, active directory, etc. Thanks
I have a question related to Microsoft 2003 server environment. I need to migrate back from domain controller to plain workgroup. What should be done to to make it work. I am interested just from Microsoft prospectives, meaning users, group policy, active directory, etc. Thanks
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Asif Dasl
Member Posts: 2,116 ■■■■■■■■□□
Command prompt - dcpromo - remove from domain
Windows system properties - remove from domain, give it a name of the workgroup -
Optionsromand
Member Posts: 21 ■□□□□□□□□□
But is the demoting with dcpromo is really needed? If I just physically disconnect the server form the network and put all workstation in workgroup. Sure I will reconfigure DHCP and DNS because it is currently on the server. Am I missing something?
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OptionsAsif Dasl
Member Posts: 2,116 ■■■■■■■■□□
You must gracefully demote the domain controller, otherwise metadata will remain in Active Directory.
Why are you demoting all the workstations as well? You need to be wary about user profiles and user files if you are going back from a domain to a workgroup. How many workstations are you doing this to? -
Optionsromand
Member Posts: 21 ■□□□□□□□□□
The client wants to make it as simple as posible, so they will not keep tech suport. There are just about 4 computers. Yes, user profiles and user information that's I am worry about. As I read 2003 domain controllers may not gracefully demote, so it will bring more problems.
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OptionsAsif Dasl
Member Posts: 2,116 ■■■■■■■■□□
I presume that the DC is the last DC in the forest. You may need to remove the DHCP service and rely on the internet router for DHCP.The client wants to make it as simple as posible, so they will not keep tech suport. There are just about 4 computers. Yes, user profiles and user information that's I am worry about. As I read 2003 domain controllers may not gracefully demote, so it will bring more problems.
You just need to transfer user documents from the domain profile to the workgroup profile using FAST (XP - File and Setting Transfer Wizard) or WET (Vista/7 - Windows Easy Transfer). Use the wizard in the domain profile to take the documents and settings across, then remove the computer from the domain and run the wizard again as if it were the 'new' computer to transfer all the documents and settings to the workgroup profile.
PS. It's highly unusual to do this process i.e. domain to workgroup. You would normally want computers to be centrally managed using a server. -
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phoeneous
Member Posts: 2,333 ■■■■■■■□□□
The client wants to make it as simple as posible, so they will not keep tech suport. There are just about 4 computers. Yes, user profiles and user information that's I am worry about. As I read 2003 domain controllers may not gracefully demote, so it will bring more problems.
You should advise your client not to do this. -
Optionsromand
Member Posts: 21 ■□□□□□□□□□
Thank you Asif Dasl, once again! Your posts were very helpfull.
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Optionsromand
Member Posts: 21 ■□□□□□□□□□
You should advise your client not to do this.
Yes, I will advise them not to do this -
Optionsr1ngl0rd
Registered Users Posts: 1 ■□□□□□□□□□
I know it's been a few years, but what was the outcome of this migration? Did you do it? Was it successful?
