after backing up windows 2003 (w2k3_1) server which is a domain controller in the LAN, now i obtained another new machine (wanna name it w2k3_2 server) and wants to restore the w2k3_1 backups to w2k3_2 server but here's the question: 1, must i name the w2k3_2 server as w2k3_1 before backup will be successfull? (i mean the computer name, not the domain name) 2, after just installing the windows 2003 server (withou promoting it to domain controller) on the w2k3_2 can i go ahead and do the backup restore or must i promote it to domain controller before restoring? 3, must i name the folders in w2k3_2 exactly the same way it is in w2k3_1 before backup will be succesfull or can i restore data on folder with a different name? the motive here is to migrate from old and low performance machine to new one; with least effort.

If all you are trying to achieve is to 'migrate' a DC then doing a restore is probably not the best way to go. Get your new server on to the network and DCPROMO it so you have 2 DC's. You can then transfer the Domain Master rolls to the new DC, demote the old DC and remove it form the network (or why not keep it online as a backup Domain Controller?) Wizard ICT. Microsoft Certified Professional