how to remove Server Folders and demote DC

Question

We are a small MSP dealing with small business. 5 to 60 computers per customer. We just took over a small accounting business, 4 computers and 2 servers.

Bear with me please, I have had no experience with Server folders and redirect. Don't know why it set up this way but here goes, 2 servers, one 20212 essentials and the other 2019 essentials. I'm guessing they added 2019 since 2012 is EOL. They use Drake accounting software along with AMI and 1 other.

We need to get the 2012 offline, it is the DC, Web server to use server connect to join and add computers. Also, AD CS. Lastly the have a RAS server set up. The 2019 is Domain joined not sure what level it currently is. Has newer software databases on it.

The server shuts down every 4 days due to a license issue. The Drake software according to their support should not be copied and moved, it should be backed up and reinstalled. My first question is how to I remove the server folder redirect function and how will it affect the programs?

Can I just demote the DC and remove all the computers from the domain including the second server.

Then just remap and reset the conf for the software?

Or is there more to it than that?

Any help or direction would be helpful. The last IT company were very unprofessional, don't understand why just several computers needed this.

Need to set up backup an DR but till we get this straight no use. I am backing all her data up locally till we get this fixed.

Answer 1

Hello Mike Mannella,

Thank you for posting in Q&A forum.

My first question is how to I remove the server folder redirect function and how will it affect the programs?

A1: Here are the steps you can remove the server folder redirect function.
And I think it will not affect the programs. Because I think the programs and folder redirection have no Relevancy.

I did a test in a test environment, and the domain user "testuser" redirected Documents to a network path.

An OU1 with a user testuser in it, I redirect the user's Documents to a network path.

Here's the setting in the GPO:

After the GPO folder redirection above applies, I can see the testuser' Documents is redirected.

Change the policy on the domain controller like this, then log out the user account and log in to the client again. Then you will see the testuser's Documents is redirected back to local original default path.

Log out of the account again, log in to the client, and see that Documents has returned to the local path.

Can I just demote the DC and remove all the computers from the domain including the second server.

A2: Do you mean you do not need one AD domain? You'll need to talk to your organization. If you company does not need it, maybe you can consider this.

Then just remap and reset the conf for the software?
A3: I am sorry, I do not know more about this program, you may need to consult the software vendors or colleagues who are familiar with the software.

Note:

Before making any changes to the production environment, test them in a test environment.

It's a good idea to back up any important data or information before making any changes.

I hope the information above is helpful.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to let us know.

Best Regards,

Daisy Zhou

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Answer 2

Thank you, Daisy, exactly what I needed. Yes, for the size of this company, there was never no need for server folders, RAS Server. I will demote the DC and setup a workgroup. Setup a share and remap.

Thank you again.