Windows Server 2000 Active Directory Disaster Recovery Guide

Critical Notice

⚠️ Windows Server 2000 is critically outdated and unsupported. This guide is for emergency recovery only. Plan immediate migration to a supported platform.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Pre-Disaster Preparation
3. Backup Strategies
4. System State Backup
5. Domain Controller Recovery
6. Forest Recovery Procedures
7. FSMO Role Recovery
8. Common Recovery Scenarios
9. Post-Recovery Validation
10. Migration Planning

Introduction

Active Directory disasters in Windows Server 2000 environments require immediate attention due to the lack of vendor support and modern recovery tools. This guide provides emergency procedures for recovering AD services while planning migration to supported platforms.

Pre-Disaster Preparation

Essential Documentation

Maintain current documentation of: - Domain and forest structure - FSMO role holders - Trust relationships - Group Policy configurations - Service account dependencies - DNS zone configurations

Recovery Prerequisites

• Windows 2000 Server installation media
• Latest service pack (SP4)
• Driver disks for hardware
• System state backups
• Directory Services Restore Mode (DSRM) password

Backup Strategies

System State Backup Components

Windows 2000 System State includes: - Active Directory database (NTDS.DIT) - SYSVOL folder - Registry - COM+ Class Registration database - Certificate Services database (if installed) - System boot files

Backup Best Practices

# Schedule daily System State backup
ntbackup backup systemstate /j "Daily System State" /f "D:\Backups\SystemState.bkf"

# Verify backup integrity
ntbackup backup systemstate /v /f "D:\Backups\SystemState.bkf"

Backup Rotation Schedule

• Daily: System State backup (7-day retention)
• Weekly: Full server backup (4-week retention)
• Monthly: Archived full backup (12-month retention)

System State Backup

Manual Backup Procedure

1. Using NTBackup GUI:
2. Start → Programs → Accessories → System Tools → Backup
3. Select "Backup Wizard"
4. Choose "Only back up the System State data"
5. Specify backup location

6. Set verification options

7. Command Line Backup: ```batch # Create system state backup with verification ntbackup backup systemstate /j "Emergency Backup" /v /f "E:\ADBackup\systemstate.bkf"

# Include SYSVOL in separate backup ntbackup backup C:\WINNT\SYSVOL /j "SYSVOL Backup" /f "E:\ADBackup\sysvol.bkf" ```

Backup Storage Recommendations

• Store backups on separate physical drives
• Maintain offsite copies
• Test restore procedures monthly
• Document backup passwords and encryption keys

Domain Controller Recovery

Non-Authoritative Restore

Use when DC has failed but other DCs have current data:

1. Boot into Directory Services Restore Mode:
2. Press F8 during startup
3. Select "Directory Services Restore Mode"

4. Log in with DSRM password

5. Restore System State: ```batch # Restore from backup ntbackup restore /f "E:\ADBackup\systemstate.bkf" /systemstate

# Restart in normal mode shutdown /r /t 0 ```

1. Verify Replication: batch # Check replication status repadmin /showreps dcdiag /v

Authoritative Restore

Use when deleted objects need recovery or corruption affects all DCs:

1. Perform Non-Authoritative Restore First

2. Mark Objects as Authoritative: ```batch # Start NTDSUTIL ntdsutil authoritative restore

# Restore entire domain restore subtree "dc=domain,dc=com"

# Restore specific OU restore subtree "ou=Users,dc=domain,dc=com"

# Restore single object restore object "cn=John Doe,ou=Users,dc=domain,dc=com"

quit quit ```

1. Restart and Force Replication: batch # Force replication to all partners repadmin /syncall /force

Forest Recovery Procedures

Complete Forest Recovery Steps

1. Identify Forest Root Domain DC
2. Must recover schema master first

3. Document all domain relationships

4. Recover Forest Root Domain: ```batch # Restore forest root DC

5. Install Windows 2000 Server
6. Restore System State
7. Seize all FSMO roles

8. Verify schema integrity ```

9. Recover Child Domains:

10. Restore in hierarchical order
11. Verify trust relationships
12. Restore group policies

Schema Recovery

# Verify schema integrity
ntdsutil
semantic database analysis
go
quit
quit

# If corruption detected, restore schema master
# Perform authoritative restore of schema partition
restore subtree "cn=schema,cn=configuration,dc=forest,dc=com"

FSMO Role Recovery

Identifying FSMO Role Holders

# List all FSMO roles
netdom query fsmo

# Using NTDSUTIL
ntdsutil
roles
connections
connect to server DC01
quit
select operation target
list roles for connected server
quit
quit

Seizing FSMO Roles

When original role holder is permanently offline:

ntdsutil
roles
connections
connect to server DC02
quit

# Seize each role as needed
seize schema master
seize naming master
seize rid master
seize pdc
seize infrastructure master
quit
quit

FSMO Recovery Best Practices

• Document role transfers immediately
• Update DNS records
• Verify replication after seizure
• Clean up metadata for failed DCs

Common Recovery Scenarios

Scenario 1: Accidental Deletion of OUs

1. Immediate Actions: batch # Stop replication to prevent propagation repadmin /options DC01 +DISABLE_INBOUND_REPL repadmin /options DC01 +DISABLE_OUTBOUND_REPL

2. Perform Authoritative Restore:

3. Boot into DSRM
4. Restore System State
5. Mark deleted OU as authoritative
6. Re-enable replication

Scenario 2: Database Corruption

1. Attempt Soft Recovery: batch ntdsutil files recover quit quit

2. If Soft Recovery Fails:

3. Perform offline defragmentation
4. Restore from last known good backup
5. Consider metadata cleanup

Scenario 3: SYSVOL Corruption

1. Verify FRS Status: ```batch # Check File Replication Service net stop ntfrs net start ntfrs

# Monitor event logs for FRS errors ```

1. Authoritative SYSVOL Restore:
2. Stop FRS service
3. Restore SYSVOL from backup
4. Set BurFlags for authoritative restore
5. Restart FRS service

Post-Recovery Validation

Health Check Procedures

1. Domain Controller Diagnostics: ```batch # Comprehensive DC testing dcdiag /v /c /d /e

# Specific tests dcdiag /test:replications dcdiag /test:fsmocheck dcdiag /test:knowsofroleholders ```

1. Replication Verification: ```batch # Check replication partners repadmin /showreps

# Force replication repadmin /syncall /AeD

# Check for replication errors repadmin /showrepl * /csv > replication_report.csv ```

1. DNS Validation: ```batch # Verify DNS registration dcdiag /test:dns

# Check SRV records nslookup -type=srv _ldap._tcp.dc._msdcs.domain.com ```

Application Testing

• Test user authentication
• Verify group policy application
• Check service account functionality
• Validate trust relationships
• Test critical business applications

Migration Planning

Post-Recovery Migration Strategy

1. Immediate Stabilization:
2. Document current configuration
3. Implement monitoring

4. Create migration timeline

5. Migration Preparation:

6. Assess application compatibility
7. Plan coexistence strategy

8. Prepare new infrastructure

9. Recommended Migration Path: Windows 2000 → Windows 2003 (transitional) → Windows 2012 R2 → Windows 2019/2022

Risk Mitigation During Migration

• Maintain comprehensive backups
• Test each migration phase
• Plan rollback procedures
• Keep legacy systems isolated

Emergency Contact Information

Critical Resources

• Microsoft Premier Support (if available)
• Third-party Windows 2000 specialists
• Data recovery services
• Hardware vendor support

Documentation Requirements

Maintain offline copies of: - Recovery procedures - System passwords - Backup locations - Hardware configurations - Network diagrams

Conclusion

While this guide provides emergency recovery procedures for Windows Server 2000 Active Directory, the critical priority must be migration to a supported platform. The risks of continuing to operate Windows Server 2000 far exceed any perceived benefits of maintaining the status quo.

Final Recommendations

1. Use these procedures for emergency recovery only
2. Begin migration planning immediately
3. Implement network isolation for legacy systems
4. Maintain multiple backup strategies
5. Test recovery procedures regularly

Remember: Every day on Windows Server 2000 increases risk exponentially. Prioritize migration over maintaining legacy infrastructure.