How To Upgrade a Windows NT 4.0-Based PDC to a Windows Server 2003-Based Domain Controller

This step-by-step article describes how to upgrade a Windows NT 4.0-based primary domain controller (PDC) to a Windows Server 2003-based domain controller.

The first step in the upgrade process is to upgrade the PDC to Windows Server 2003. Use one of the following methods to upgrade the Windows NT 4.0-based PDC to a Windows Server 2003-based domain controller.

Upgrade an Existing Windows NT 4.0 PDC to Windows Server 2003

1. Synchronize all the backup domain controllers in the domain so that they are completely up-to-date. Consider taking one of the backup domain controllers offline to preserve a replica of the Security Accounts Manager (SAM).
2. Insert the Windows Server 2003 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive on the PDC. The Windows Server 2003 Installation Wizard starts.
3. Click Install Windows Server 2003.
4. When the wizard prompts you to either upgrade or create a new installation, click Upgrade, and then click Next.
5. Accept the license agreement, and then click Next.
6. Type the product installation key, and then click Next.
7. After Setup copies system files and restarts, the rest of the upgrade process runs automatically.
8. After the upgrade is complete, the server restarts, and then the Active Directory Installation Wizard starts automatically. In the wizard, specify the appropriate Active Directory options.

Upgrade a New Windows NT 4.0 Installation to Windows Server 2003

1. Install Windows NT Server 4.0. During the installation, specify the options to make the new computer a backup domain controller.
2. In Server Manager, promote the backup domain controller to a PDC.
3. Make sure that there are no errors in the event logs and that SAM replication is completing successfully.
4. Follow the steps in the "Upgrade an Existing Windows NT 4.0 PDC to Windows Server 2003" section of this article to upgrade the PDC to Windows Server 2003.