Active Directory [backup/restore] - DR test process

I want to run a test DR procedure.
I want to restore active directory from a old box[ will be temporarily shutdown to test DR @ a remote site] to a totally different, hardware wise, to another server.

I backed up AD using NT Backup utility and saved it on another file server.
Can I restore it with NT Backup utility to the new test DR box.
Now I was looking at a microsoft article: 263532. It says it could be done, but it says the machine has to be a stand alone server in a workgroup. Which defeats the purpose to me. Because it is not a AD box.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can do?

thanks

During the restore process, the server you're restoring to becomes a domain controller.

We want to try a Disaster recovery process.
We are going to build a brand new DC. I want to backup the AD/system state, from our main server, and do a restore to our disaster recovery domain controller.
This is just a test.
Can this be done.
I tried backing up AD/system state/ sys vol, in directory restore mode from the good DC.
Then transferred the *.bak file to the new DC. booted into F8 - directory services mode, and did a restore.
This was done with NT Backup, the one that comes with Server.
But it did not work.
This is a windows 2003 standard server.
Any suggestions how I can get this to work.

** Keep in mind totally different machine with different hard ware.
thanks for your help.

what do you mean I have to build the new server, and put it in a workgroup and do a restore?
I cannot make it a member server because it will be the first domain controller in the domain for DR purposes.

Thanks again

[Threads merged.]

Right, put it in a workgroup. During the restore, the server will switch to being a domain controller in the original domain.

You had the right idea looking at KB 263532. Just make sure you follow all the instructions in there; there's registry stuff too. I'm pretty sure the procedure is the same for 2003 as 2000.

[/I]I am going to try this and see what happens.

I did a restore and the machine booted nicely but AD did not show up.
Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to fix this.
thanks

I'm not sure I follow the entire problem, but remember that active directory takes some time to propagate across your network. Making goliath changes like that could take awhile for the clients to play nicely with the server, particularly when the whole network structure has to come together with a new domain controller, etc. Give things some time to settle and see what happens.

There is no propogation to take place. We are doing a DR test, and building a brand new DC. The only one in the network. I backed up AD in directory services mode.
Restored it back. Do I have to be in directory services mode?
It all went well and was able to reboot into the machine but there was no AD.
Any suggestions on how to get my AD back.
Should I try another test and do the restore in directory services mode?
thanks