Windows Server 2008 R2 Adprep Download
I want to bring a Windows 2008 R2 Server into an existing Windows 2003 domain, therefore I need to run adprep.exe. Because my Windows 2003 server is 32-bit, the 2008 R2 media doesn't contain any of the adprep.exe's for the 32-bit or 64-bit. In order words, it simply doesn't exist.
Does anyone know how I can acquire the 32-bit version of adprep? I have been unsuccessful in finding a suitable download.When I wanted to introduce a 2003 R2 server into the domain I also had to hunt for adprep.exe In the end I used a MS url that I'd found a year or two before that allows you to request specific hotfixes without having to ring through to support. I may still have the copy of adprep that i got but if not I'll dig out the URL at some point over the weekend.
A 2008R2 sever will happily be a member server on a 2003 domain without having to raise the AD schema to 2008. You will need to extend the group poilicy to use the extra features of 2008 servers via GPO's if you are staying with a 2003 AD schema. You only have to raise the AD schema to 2008 if you want the 2008R2 server to be a DC.
Windows Server 2008 R2 Adprep Download
If just done exactly that to migrate all our settings to new 2008R2 DC's. The proceedure is fairly painless. Build 2008R2 servers, add features (DHCP,DNS etc) connect to domain, run adprep on new 2008R2 server, run DC promo, wait 24 hours to ensure replication, check logs to ensure its all OK, demote old 2003 servers, wait another 24 hours to ensure all is correct, check logs once more, finally kill old servers. Mission acomplished!