Microsoft Windows Server

Step by step Migrate Active Directory Windows Server 2003 to Active Directory Windows Server 2016.

Migrate Active Directory Server 2003 to Server 2016, In this blog, I’m using my Server2003 (windows server 2003 STD SP2) and my Server2016 (new Windows Server 2016 Standard).

Before proceeding to migrate a lively Directory from Windows Server 2003 to Server 2016, you want to first install Windows Server 2016 on a replacement machine which can then be promoted to Active Directory Server 2016.

Migrate Active Directory Server 2003 to Server 2016

1- Windows Server 2016 Installation.

How to Install Windows Server 2016, Click here

2- Renaming Windows Server 2016.

How to rename Windows Server 2016, Click here

3- Configure the IP Addresses in Server 2016.

Windows Server 2003     Windows Server 2016

Computer Name:         Server2003                     Server2016

Domain Name:             xpertstec.local

IP Address (Static):      10.0.0.20                        10.0.0.25

Subnet Mask:               255.255.255.0                255.255.255.0

Default Gateway:          10.0.0.1                          10.0.0.1

Preferred DNS Server:  10.0.0.20                        10.0.0.20

Now we’d like to Rais the domain and forest functional level in Server2003.

How to raise Active Directory domain and forest functional levels in Windows Server 2003.

Raise Domain Function level Server 2003

4- On the Server2003, open Active Directory Users and Computers, then right-click domain name (xpertstec.local), then click Raise Domain Functional Level.

raise domain functional level active directory server 2003

5- Raise Domain Functional Level interface, make sure you click on Windows Server 2003 and then click Raise.

Domain Functional Level must be found out to a minimum of Windows 2003 mode. this is often rock bottom required Domain Functional Level that permits a Windows Server 2012 Domain Controller installation.

raise domain functional level active directory sever 2003

6- Raise Domain Functional Level, so click ok.

domain functional level active directory sever 2003

7- The Domain functional level was raised successfully, then click the ok button.

domain functional level raised sever 2003

8- The current domain functional level is Windows Server 2003, so click close.

current domain functional level active directory sever 2003

Raise Forest Functional Level Server 2003

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

raise forest functional level active directory sever 2003

10- On the Raise Forest Functional Level select Windows Server 2003 and then click Raise.

raise forest functional level active directory sever 2003

11- On the Raise Forest Functional Level, so click ok.

forest functional level sever 2003

12- Click ok the functional level was raised successfully.

forest functional level raised sever 2003

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

current forest functional level sever 2003

14- The next step is to hitch Windows Server 2016 to a lively Directory Domain.

How to Join a Windows Server 2016 to a lively Directory Domain, Click here here

Now check in Windows Server 2016 with the domain administrator account.

15- Setup an Additional Domain Controller (ADC) in Windows Server 2016.

How to Setup an Additional Domain Controller (ADC) in Windows Server 2016, Click here

Now we need to move Server roles from windows server 2003 to Windows Server 2016

Change Operation Master ( Migrate Active Directory Server 2003 to 2016)

16- On the Server2016 server, open Active Directory Users and Computers, right-click domain xpertstec.local and then click on Operations Masters.

active directory 2016 operational master

17- On the Operations Masters, Select the RID tab and then choose the Change button.

server 2016 operational master rid

18- Click Yes.

active directory 2016 operational master role

19- The operations master role was successfully transferred and then click ok.

active directory 2016 transferred role

20- Verify that the Operation master now transferred to your new Server Server2016.xpertstec.local.

active directory 2016 operational master rid

21- On the Operations Masters, Select the PDC tab and then choose the Change button.

active directory 2016 operational master pdc

22- Click Yes.

server 2016 transfer role

23- The operations master role was successfully transferred and then click on ok.

server 2016 operations master transferred

24- Verify that the Operation master now transferred to the new Server Server2016.xpertstec.local

active directory 2016 operational master

25- On the Operations Masters, Select the Infrastructure tab and then choose the Change button.

server 2016 operational master infrastructure

26- Click Yes.

server 2016 transfer role

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

server 2016 operational master transferred

28- Verify that the Operation master now transferred to the new Server Server2016.xpertstec.local

server 2016 operational master infrastructure

Change Domain Controller

29- On Server2016 server, open Active Directory Sites and Services right-click Active Directory Sites and Services and then click Change Domain Controller.

server 2016 sites and services

30- Select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance and choose your Server2016.xpertstec.local and click on ok.

change directory server 2016

31- Verify that the Windows Server is now reflecting your new Server2016.xpertstec.local.

sites and services server 2016

32- On the Active Directory Domains and Trusts, right-click Active Directory Domains and then Trusts and choose Operations Manager.

domains and trusts operations master

33- On the Active Directory Domains and Trusts, right-click Active Directory Domains and Trusts and choose Operations Manager.

server 2016 domain naming operations master

34- Are you sure you would like to transfer the operations master role to a special computer? and click on Yes.

domains and trusts tole transfer

35- The Operations Master is successfully transferred and click on ok.

domains and trusts tole transferred

36-Now the Domain naming operations master transferred to the Server2016.xpertstec.local server.

domain naming operations master

37- On the Server2016 server, open prompt and sort regsvr32 schmmgmt.dll to vary the Schema Master.

server 2016 regsvr32

38- Now type mmc and press Enter.

mms command prompt

Change Active Directory Schema ( Migrate Active Directory Server 2003 to 2016)

39- On the Server2016.xpertstec.local server > open MMC > click file and then choose Add/Remove Snap-in.

server 2016 add remove snap in

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

server 2016 add remove snap in

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

server 2016 console root

42- Select This Domain Controller or AD LDS instance > click Server2016.xpertstec.local server and then click on ok.

change directory server 2016

43- Click OK to proceed.

change directory schema snap in

44- Verify the Active Directory Schema Server2016.xpertstec.local computer is shown.

active directory schema master server 2016

45- On the Console1 > right-click Active Directory Schema and then choose Operations Master.

directory directory schema operations master

46- Click the Change button to transfer the schema master role to the Server2016.xpertstec.local.

change directory change schema

47- Are you sure you would like to vary the schema operations master? and then click on Yes.

change directory change schema master

48- Operations master successfully transferred, click ok.

change directory change schema transfer

49- Verify the present schema master (online) is now Server2016.xpertstec.local and then click on Close.

change directory change schema 2016

50- Go back to Server2016 Server, open prompt and sort Netdom query fsmo to verify that out new Server2016.xpertstec.local Server is running the FSMO role.

netdom query fsmo 2016

51- Remove the Server 2003 from Global Catalog.

On Server2016 open Active Directory Users and Computers.


Expand your domain (e.g. xpertstec.local) and Select Domain Controllers.
Right-click at your old server (e.g. Server2003) and then Select Properties.

server 2016 add users and computers

52- So, Under General tab click NTDS Settings.

server 2003 ntds global catalog

53- Uncheck the Global Catalog checkbox and click ok and then ok to close all windows.

ntds settings properties

54- Next, open IPv4 IP and make sure you point the DNS IP to your new Server2016.xpertstec.local IP address.

Change the Preferred DNS Address on Server 2003

On Server2003: Open Network and Sharing Center.

Right-click on Local Area Connection and click Properties.
Double click on Internet Protocol TCP/IP.

Change the Preferred DNS server address to match the Server2016 IP Address.
click ok and then close all windows.

internet protocol properties

Remove Active Directory Server 2003

Now the last step is to remove our Server 2003 Active Directory Domain Controller.

55- Open run and type dcpromo.

command prompt dcpromo

56- Active Directory Installation Wizard, so click next.

active directory installation wizard

57- Remove the active directory Server 2003, so click on next.

server 2003 remove active directory

58- Type Active Directory Administrator Password and then click on next.

active directory server 2003 wizard password

59- Review the summary and ensure the choices you chose and click on next.

remove active directory server 2003

60- Wait for the process to complete.

removing active directory in progress

61- Active Directory was faraway from this computer and click on Finish.

sever 2003 active directory removed

62- Click Restart Now.

active directory removed restart now

63- Now login on to Server2003 (this computer) type username and password and click on ok.

windows server 2003 login

64- Now type ipconfig/ flushdns & ipconfig/ registerdns & dcdiag /fix commands

ipconfig registerdns command

65- To remove Server 2003 from the Domain and join to Workgroup.

Server 2003 Join to Workgroup

Right-click on My Computer and select properties.

windows server 2003 desktop

66- Select the Computer Name tab and click the change button.

server 2003 system properties

67- Select Workgroup > type the workgroup name and click ok.

server 2003 change computer name

68- Type Administrator username, password and click on ok.

change name change server 2003

69- Welcome to the WORKGROUP, click ok.

welcome to workgroup server 2003

70- Click OK.

change name restart sever 2003

71- Click ok.

change server name 2003

72- Close all open windows and then click Yes to restart the computer

system settings change

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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