I want to reinstall won 2003 server on the same box that it is on now. My main concern is that I want to preserve all the user accounts/sid's for obvious reasons. I have 2 HD's in the machine in whick I ghost with. Is there a way to do this and how.

Yes, a very specific way. Lemme find it. I think the offical word is backup the meta data, backup something else and then do a system backup. Do a clean install and restore data. Wonder if a mirrored drive would work?

Ok thanks, I will keep checking for the answers.

no no when you do the reinstall dont format choose keep existing file system intact--the next screen will come up with the same folder WINDOWS~~~just add a 1 on the end o change the name[8+ characters] all the files will be kept--but this wont help with applications like WORD and WP and AUTOCAD stuff like that will get wiped. for applications typically one has to go intoeach programm and run the backup on it or recover the files that store the data -like in Office Outlook they are *.pst files and so on...I wouldnt trust ANY program to programs and data on a MS OS machine..you never can predict how its gonna turn out leme know if this gives you any ideas edeichinger@hotmail.com

I would say if you did what ed suggests you would have a terrible mess. If you want to maintain your domain but reinstall on the OS on that server than by far the easiest thing to do would be to get your hands on another pc. Install 2003, promote it to be a dc. It will replicate all the AD data. Demote the current server, format it, reinstall the OS, promote it to be a dc and you can then demote the other pc and you'll be all set.

When i add the 2nd dc which option do I select. And which do I select to bring it back again. Installing the First Domain Controller in a New Forest. Installing the First Domain Controller in an Existing Forest. Installing the First Domain Controller in a New Child Domain. Installing an Additional Domain Controller for an Existing Domain.