Microsoft Windows Server

Active Directory Migration from Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2012 R2

Migrate Server 2003 to 2012. In this blog, I am using my DC2003 (windows server 2003 STD SP2) and my DC2012 (new Windows Server 2012 Standard)

Migrate Active Directory Server 2003 to Server 2012

1- On the DC2003, open Active Directory Users and Computers, then right click domain name (xpertstec.local), then click Raise Domain Functional Level

raise domain functional level server 2003

2- On the Raise Domain Functional Level interface, confirm you click Windows Server 2003 and click on Raise.

Domain Functional Level must be set up to a minimum of Windows 2003 mode. This is the lowest required Domain Functional Level that allows a Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller installation.

raise domain functional level server 2003

3- Raise Domain Functional Level, click ok.

domain functional level server 2003

4- Domain functional level was raised successfully, click ok.

server 2003 domain functional level raised

5- Current domain functional level is Windows Server 2003, click close.

server 2003 current domain functional level

6- Open Active Directory Domain and Trusts right-click Active Directory Domain and Trusts and then click Raise Forest Functional Level.

server 2003 raise forest functional level

7- On the Raise Forest Functional Level Select Windows Server 2003, click Raise.

raise forest functional level server 2003

8- On the Raise Forest Functional Level, click ok.

server 2003 forest functional level

9- Click ok The functional level was raised successfully.

server 2003 forest functional level raised

10- Verify Current Forest functional level is Windows Server 2003 and then click ok.

server 2003 current forest functional level

11- Now Join Windows Server 2012 (DC2012) to DC2003 Active Directory Domain.

12- First set IP address in windows server 2012 (DC2012).


How to Join Windows Server 2012 to an Active Directory Domain, Click here.

13- Next step is to configure Additional Domain Controller in DC2012

How To Create Additional Domain Controller (ADC) In Windows Server 2012, Step by step Click here.

Migrate Active Directory Server 2003 to Server 2012

14- On the DC2012 server, open Active Directory Users and Computers, right click domain xpertstec.local  and click Operations Masters.

active directory 2012 operational masters

15- On the Operations Masters, Select RID, Select Change button.

active directory 2012 operational masters rid

16- Click Yes.

active directory 2012 operational masters transfer

17- The operations master role was successfully transferred, click ok.

active directory 2012 operational masters transferred

18- Verify that Operation master now transferred to our new Server DC2012.xpertstec.local.

active directory 2012 operational masters rid

19- On the Operations Masters, Select PDC, Select Change button.

active directory 2012 operational masters pdc

20- Click Yes.

active directory 2012 operational masters transfer roles

21- The operations master role was successfully transferred, click ok.

active directory 2012 operational masters transferred

22- Verify that Operation master now transferred to our new Server DC2012.xpertstec.local.

active directory 2012 operational masters pdc

23- On the Operations Masters, Select Infrastructure, Select Change button.

active directory 2012 operational masters infrastructure

24- Click Yes.

active directory 2012 transfer roles operational masters

25- The operations master role was successfully transferred, click ok.

active directory 2012 operational masters roles transferred

26- Verify that Operation master now transferred to our new Server DC2012.xpertstec.local.

active directory 2012 operational masters infrastructure

Change Sites and Services

27- On DC2012 server, open Active Directory Domain and Trusts right click Active Directory Domain and Trusts and click Change Domain Controller.

server 2012 change directory server

28- Select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance and select your DC2012.xpertstec.local and then click ok.

server 2012 current directory server

29- Verify that the server now reflects your new DC2012.xpertstec.local.

active directory sites and services

Change Domains and Trusts

30- On the Active Directory Domains and Trusts, right click Active Directory Domains and Trusts and then select Operations Manager.

domains and trusts operations master

31- In the Operations Master, click Change to transfer the domain naming master role to the DC2012.xpertstec.local Windows Server.

domain naming operation master

32- Are you sure you wish to transfer the operations master role to a different computer?, so click Yes.

domain naming transfer operations master

33- The Operations Master is successfully transferring, click ok.

domains and trusts operations master roles transferred

34- Now the Domain naming operations master transferred to DC2012.xpertstec.local server.

server 2012 domain and trust role change

35- On the DC2012 server, open Command Prompt and type regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll to change the Schema Master.

regsvr32 command

Change Domain Controller

36- On the DC2012.xpertstec.local server, open MMC, click File, select Add/Remove Snap-ins.

server 2012 add remove snap in

37- Select Active Directory Schema, click Add, and then click ok.

server 2012 add remove snap ins

38- On the Console1, right click Active Directory Schema and then select Change Active Directory Domain Controller.

server 2012 console root

39- Select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance, click DC2012.xpertstec.local server and then click ok.

server 2012 current directory server

40- Click OK to proceed.

change directory schema snap in

41- Verify Active Directory Schema DC2012.xpertstec.local computer is showing.

change directory schema console root

42- On the Console1, right click Active Directory Schema and then select Operations Master.

change directory schema operations master

43- Click Change to transfer the schema master role to the DC2012.xpertstec.local.

change directory change scheme

44- Are sure you want to change the schema operations master role to a different computer and then click on Yes.

change directory change scheme master

45- Operations master successfully transferred, so click OK.

change directory scheme transfer

46- Verify the current schema master (online) is now DC2012.xpertstec.local, so click Close.

change directory change scheme transfers

The next step is to remove the legacy 2003 Windows Server from the Global Catalog Server.

47- Now switch back to DC2003 server, open Active Directory Sites and Services, browse to Sites, Default-First-Site-name, Servers, DC2003, NTDS Settings right click and select Properties.

server 2003 ntds settings

48- NTDS Settings, un-tick Global Catalog, click Apply and then click ok.

server 2003 ntds global settings

49- Switch back to DC2012 Server, open Command Prompt and then type Netdom query fsmo to verify that out new DC2012.xpertstec.local Server is running the FSMO role.

netdom query fsmo command

Next, open IPv4 IP and make sure you point the DNS IP to your new DC2012.xpertstec.local IP address.

Remove Active Directory Server 2003

50- Now the last step is to remove our DC2003 ADDS, open run, and then type dcpromo.

dcpromo command

51- Active Directory Installation Wizard, so click next.

server 2003 dcpromo

52- Remove active directory, then click next.

server 2003 remove active directory

53- Active directory application, so click next.

server 2003 active directory partitions

54- Select Delete all application directory partitions on this domain controller and then click next.

server 2003 removing active directory

55- Type Administrator Password and then click Next.

active directory 2003 wizard administrator password

56- Review and confirm the options you selected and then click Next.

active directory installation wizard summary

57- Wait for the process to complete.

active directory 2003 setup dcpromo

58- Active Directory removed from this computer, so click Finish.

server 2003 active directory removed

For more details click here

Jamil Parvez

Jamil Pervez works as a Network Administrator, based in Kuwait with a Primary focus on Microsoft technologies. Microsoft Certified MCSE, MCTP, MCITP, CCNP, CCIP, CCVP with 20 years of experience in administering Windows Servers, Exchange, VMWare, Veeam B&R, Veritas BackupExec.

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One Comment

  1. Hello. I have checked your xpertstec.com and
    i see you’ve got some duplicate content so probably it is the reason that you don’t rank high in google.

    But you can fix this issue fast. There is a tool that creates articles like human, just search in google: miftolo’s tools

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