I added this new server and successfully promoted it to DC and have had issues ever since. I want to demote it and blow it completely away reloading with Windows 2000 Server. The problem is that it will not allow me to demote it now. Help!

Is there another server in the domain? What is the problem(s)/ error message? They may be related to this issue.

We have a W2k first DC. We also have an old NT 4.0 server that I want to clean off and reload with W2k server as soon as I can get this new server straightened out. I get this error constantly throughout the network: one or more domain controllers do not meet licensing requirements. contact your administrator. I also get event viewer errors on the 2003 server saying there is another 2003 server on the network and it is going to shutdown. There isn't and it never does.

Overnight, the Server shut itself down. I had no idea that this Server 2003 program was such a bi@$ch to deal with. I don't know what its deal is. The errors say we have another 2003 server in our Network, which we don't. I just want to blow it away and load 2000 Server on it. I can't get it to demote and I am afraid if I don't demote it first, I will damage my Active Directory. I need this server running ASAP as I need to transfer our Financial and antivirus database software to it before our NT 4.0 server craps out.

Sorry to say but you didn't do your homework. You demote and blow away this server you have no active directory. Period. You only have one AD server!!! First part of the homework I suspect you missed was domain name. By chance is the domain name of the 2003 SBS and the NT domain the same? if so that's where your "other server" is. They may have the same domain name but they are not the same at all. Next issue is it appears you haven't registered/licensed your SBS which is why you are getting the errors. You need to start with a understanding of Active Directory and its difference from a NT Domain. Start here http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/directory/activedirectory/default.mspx My suggestion is stay with 2003 SBS but correctly set it up. Did you test that the financial and AV products will run on 2000 or 2003 server? If not you assumed ALOT. Number of times you have to upgrade to the newer version. Homework isn't just for school. Its for life.

That whole part about you were about to lose the Nt server got me thinking. If you haven't tested the apps on 2000/3 your best best is to immediately bring up a NT BDC. Install the applications and then transfer/copy the data over to the BDC. Promote the BDC to pdc. Take the former pdc offline. Rename the pdc to the formers name and ip address. Update wins records. Update any ini/inf files. This should give you some breathing room to plan the transfer to 2003 server.

Here is a step by step how to http://www.winnetmag.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=19877