OctalDump wrote: » Probably the best option is to just duplicate the set up on the newer OS. Get the documentation for what services are running on 2003 and their config, and set them up the same on the 2012 box. If you need to migrate AD, then the standard procedure of joining the new box to the domain, promote to DC, move the roles off the old box, decommission the old boxes and raise the functional level, is probably the way to go.
les_garten wrote: » Hi, It is one 2003 R2 DC migrating to a New 2012 Essentials. Some file shares, DNS, and DHCP, 5 workstations or so, a few users. Small Dr's office. I am preparing like I am just going to start from scratch. Mainly wanting to not lose the profiles on the desktops. Les
--chris-- wrote: » I had to dig around a little, I was unaware of this limitation. You can preserve the user profiles with some simple documentation and data transfering...will it take more time? Yes. Will it work? Yes. Depending on what kind of pressure you are under to get this done, you might have some fun and script out the profile migration process. If thats not your thing, just document/move to external HD the following: *Email (outlook) settings (exchange, pop, imap) - usernames, passwords, hosts, ports, NK2 file, signitures, etc... *My docs *My etc...(everything under the users profile folder) *Screen resolutions, desktop backgrounds *UAC settings *Local admin? *printers / drivers / configs *mapped drives *disabled offline files? *Static IP? or DHCP? That will cover 95% of what the user will notice with a new profile. This should be doable by 1 person in a normal work day if you do it all manually.