Migrating from SBS 4.5 to SBS 2003

[SkalleBank]

Hi,

I am trying to migrate from SBS 4.5 to SBS 2003, but when I try to use ADMT I get the following error:

"The specified domain either does not exists or could not be contacted. (Errorcode = 54b, DOMAIN=INFOTRONICS)"

Any suggestions on what I have done wrong?


Terje K.

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windrivers SkalleBank

have you seen this article? (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;834859)

[SkalleBank]

Haven't seen it before :-)

But when I followed the link, I can't find the support for SMS 2003, and they want me to pay for the support without having a link for the product I need help for.

Is there any other place where I can get this hotfix?

[NooNoo]

You call them, and if its the right problem they give you the link. It's not possible to download it otherwise.

[corturbra]

Hey welcome to Windrivers, I've done about 10 of these in the last year.... and only had this error when attempting to migrate mailboxes....

Is that what you're trying to do? If so forget the Exchange migrator wizard, you'll spend more time trying to fix it than you will migrating.....

For best results, export everyone's mailbox to a pst file (for each individual user I mean, don't export into one pst, but create an individual one for each user, don't mean to be condescending, but I said the above once and someone attempted to export 15 users mailboxes into one pst...). Import again once on the new server, takes a bit of time going to each PC, but its effective, fast and reliable.

I've single-handedly done a 35 user/PC migration in a weekend using this method. I also have a feeling that the migration wizard only moves e-mail, and not calendar information....

BIG TIP of the day, if you have public folders to move, again forget the migration tool.... copy into a mailbox and export with that users PST file... then copy out of that mailbox once on new server.

Any other problems, you know where to post!

[SkalleBank]

Hi and thanks,

I've been told that the only thing the users really need to get over to the new server is their old desktop, their calendar and their emails. Any suggestions on how to do this as simply as possible?

Best regards,

Terje Kristensen

[corturbra]

Skallebank...

The way I do it is as follows.....

For each user, I make a copy of their profile (if 2000/XP or if using under 98) on the same PC, the profile will include their desktop. If they are using a custom picture or have a different picture to default it will not automatically transfer.... I usually only copy the desktop to prevent having to create new icons/shortcuts.

The profile will also contain handy info like signatures/custom dictionaries. DO NOT copy the whole profile over once in the new domain as this will screw up Office and you'll need to re-install. Copy out the bits you need, Favourites, Signatures, don't bother with cookies as the name will change anyway, Desktop, custom.dic.

For e-mail, log into Outlook and export to a pst file, choose the folders/sub-folders you need.

When you move into the new domain and setup the user, copy these files into their new profile, with the desktop as I said you'll need to reset the image. Shortcuts you may be lucky enough not to have to change any if they are set to drive mappings (F:\sage as opposed to \\server\sage). If not change these and check they work.

For e-mail, log into Outlook and import, choose not to import duplicates. Check with the user that they are happy (if such a thing...) and move onto the next PC.

Life will be blooming easy if your PC's are 98/non-profile, just change the domain details and the desktop should stay the same, Outlook will need re-configuring for your new server.

I hope the above helps....

John

[SkalleBank]

I think I'll do it this way then :-)

Thank you!

Another thing I got my head bit of for, was that those username and passwords that you tell IE to remember for you dissapeard when doing this move from one domain to another (new user on the computer). Any idea on how to copy them from the old profile to the new one?

Best regards,

Terje Kristensen

[corturbra]

I think I'll do it this way then :-)

Thank you!

Another thing I got my head bit of for, was that those username and passwords that you tell IE to remember for you dissapeard when doing this move from one domain to another (new user on the computer). Any idea on how to copy them from the old profile to the new one?

Best regards,

Terje Kristensen

That'll probably be down to cookies or some kind of setting in the application data somewhere.... problem being is if you log a user on as joeb, and then create that user on a new domain and log in on the pc they will now become joeb.newdomain.... cookies will start joeb and not joeb.domain.

To be honest I've only tried the cookies thing twice and I still had to re-do passwords/logins.... I guess in theory once you've copied the profile you could delete the old one and log in again, which would give the same username, which I did try once, but again it did not remember the passwords/usernames....

mmmm I'm doing a job on Friday from 4.5 to 2003 so I guess I could test it more then, but the key thing to doing a migration is give users the worst scenario possible, that way when 90% of the job goes successful you still look a hero...

Users always assume that what they have working now will work across on the new domain and that there will be no disruption, like my old accounts program that I've had since the 1920's using windows 95, I want it re-installed and working on XP Pro... It's typical human nature though, you work your butt off fixing things, one thing doesn't work and that's what you'll get remembered for.

Perhaps you should retort by saying that the saving of passwords in IE is a security risk which you removed due to a flaw in the code of IE which exploits a vulnerability which could allow an attacker to gain access... :devil:

[SkalleBank]

I'll do that :-)

Thanks alot..

Terje K.