Add W2003 R2 to W2000 AD, adprep fails

[DANIEL 602]

There are 2 domain controller with Windows 2000 in Active Directory with me. The first one is Windows 2000 with SP4 and Exchange SP3 and the second one is Windows 2000 SP4 only. I am looking to add a Windows 2003 to the Active Directory. I have used the command: adprep /forestprep from the CD2 of Windows 2003 on the first Windows 2000 server which is GC as well to update, but I was getting the below error instead:

ADPREP WARNING:

Before running adprep, all Windows 2000 domain controllers in the forest should be upgraded to Windows 2000 Service Pack 1 (SP1) with QFE 265089, or to Windows 2000 SP2 (or later).

QFE 265089 (included in Windows 2000 SP2 and later) is required to prevent potential domain controller corruption.

For more information about preparing your forest and domain see KB article Q331161 at http://support.microsoft.com.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Zachary]

Can you check whether the account running this action in the schema admins groups? Does the machine that you are running on hold the schema fsmo role?

[Carl Voellmecke]

I was able to resolve this problem by upgrading the forest schema to Exchange 2003 first:

1) From the Exchange 2003 CD: setup.exe /forestprep
2) From the Windows 2003 CD: adprep.exe /forestprep

(Note that Step 2 was failing initially with this error:

Adprep was unable to extend the schema.
[Status/Consequence]
There is a schema conflict with Exchange 2000. The schema is not upgraded.
[User Action]
The schema conflict must be resolved before running adprep. Resolve the schema c
onflict, allow the change to replicate between all replication partners, and the
n run Adprep. For information on resolving the conflict, see Microsoft Knowledge
Base article Q325379.)

[Anywhere]

A common problem while upgrading a Windows 2000 domain to Windows 2003 can be avoided easily by using some basic steps. In addition there should be some roll back option, that can help you to recover from failure in a short time. For more information, visit this website - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555040/en-us