Technical issue

Mohammad Abdullah 46 Reputation points
2020-09-08T17:59:58.03+00:00

Dear all,

I had server 2012 installed with active directly but unfortunately, the HDD got corrupted but I have AD backup in a folder named as NTDS.

Now I have installed server 2019 on a new HDD.Is there any way I can restore my OLD AD from the backup folder "NTDS " to my new AD server 2019 because it will save my LOT of time to recreate OU, USERS, POLICIES

Windows Server 2019
Windows Server 2019
A Microsoft server operating system that supports enterprise-level management updated to data storage.
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  1. Daisy Zhou 18,721 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2020-09-09T02:21:13.49+00:00

    Hello @Mohammad Abdullah ,

    Thank you for posting here.

    Based on the description above, we have only one DC (PDC) in this AD domain, and we can not fix the corrupted HDD, is that right?

    If so, now we have AD backup in a folder named as NTDS, is your old AD backup for 2012 full server backup and system status backup?

    1.If we have system status backup for this DC now, we can only restore the system status on this DC (restore system status backup for this DC with built-in Windows backup tool).

    2.If we have full server backup for this DC, we can restore the full server backup on this (DC) server or other server (had better) with the same hardware configuration (boot up from CD disc and install from old 2012 AD full server backup).

    3.If we have system status backup for this DC, we can try to restore the system status on other server (had better) with the same OS, machine name and IP address (I am not sure if it will be able to restore successfully with this methd).

    We can not restore 2012 backup to the new 2019 domain controller from the old 2012 AD backup.

    Hope the information above is helpful.

    Best Regards,
    Daisy Zhou

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  1. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2020-09-08T18:07:13.977+00:00

    You'll need to restore 2012 from a recent backup. Then after success you can migrate domain to Server 2019.

    The two prerequisites to introducing the first 2019 domain controller are that domain functional level needs to be 2008 or higher and older sysvol FRS replication needs to have been migrated to DFSR
    https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Storage-at-Microsoft/Streamlined-Migration-of-FRS-to-DFSR-SYSVOL/ba-p/425405

    I'd use dcdiag / repadmin tools to verify health correcting all errors found before starting any operations. Then stand up the new 2019, patch it fully, license it, join existing domain, add active directory domain services, promote it also making it a GC (recommended), transfer FSMO roles over (optional), transfer pdc emulator role (optional), use dcdiag / repadmin tools to again verify health, when all is good you can decommission / demote old one.

    --please don't forget to Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--