Reinstalling NT again for the third time!

This is the guy with the NFR version of NT which was replaced by a retail copy.

I tried doing a repair when using the retail copy and it kept all the Network configurations for the server but I lost all of the users. I had to go through the arduous task of readding each user. Giving them permissions and security to shared folders and devices. Go to each machine and take them out of the domain and re-add them again (not to mention their old local profiles). This was a long and painful task I wish not to repeat again.

Eventhough I used the retail version Cd for the reinstallation I am still getting a license error whe trying to load any microsoft products onto the server. When I try to run the license manager it said not able to run it because it was an NFR copy.

I need to know a painless way of doing this all again without going through all of this hassle. Is there a way I can save/export the users and their profiles (shares,permissions etc) reload a fresh copy of NT and then import the users back again. I know I will have to reinstall NT again, I just don't want to go through adding the users etc.

Please if there is any thorough, step by step method (known to work 100%) please email it to me or let me know of a site I can visit. This client is getting restless and there cannot be anymore problems.

Kareem.

PS. Those sites you gave me last time helped me out of a couple situations. Thanks!

An NFR version can not be upgraded to a retail version! You must completely wipe your NFR version from your hard disk and re-install a virgin retail version. Futhermore you must use both the install diskettes and CD that came with your retail version. Do not use diskettes that you created from your NFR version. The fact you still have restrictions suggests you tried to upgrade or you used install diskettes from your NFR version.

As far as I know there is only one easy way of preserving Domain & user information when converting from NFR to retail. You must install the retail version on a completely new second machine and make it a BDC in your orginal domain and then promote it to a PDC. Then wipe the orginal PDC. Then re-install the retail version as a BDC. Them promote it to a PDC. Then your orginal server will have a retail version & the orginal domain info.

I personally do not have the step by step process you requested and I am not sure that an off the shelf freeware answer exists. There are utilities out there to do what you want. Some are in the Resourse Kit but I suggest you review these 2 sites for possible alternatives:

www.jsiinc.com/reghack.htm
www.ntfaq.com

I have looked into that solution and marked it as priority #1 to do. I thought there was an easier way to do it, but I guess this way should not be too difficult. I will let you know if it was actually easier than before!

KreemO