Performing A Nonauthoritative Restore

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To restore the system state data on a domain controller, you must first start your computer in a special safe mode called directory services restore mode. This allows you to restore the Sysvol directory and Active Directory directory services database. You can only restore system state data on a local computer. You cannot restore the system state data on a remote computer. 70-291 Exam

However, you can restore backed up system state data to an alternate location a folder you designate. By restoring to an alternate location, you preserve the file and folder structure of the backed up data all folders and subfolders appear in the alternate folder you specify.

Note If you restore the system state data and you do not designate an alternate location for the restored data, Backup will erase the system state data that is currently on your computer and replace it with the system state data you are restoring. Also, if you restore the system state data to an alternate location, only the registry files, Sysvol directory files, Cluster database information files (if applicable) and system ...
... boot files are restored to the alternate location. The Active Directory database, Certificate Services database (if applicable), and COM+ Class Registration database are not restored if you designate an alternate location.

To nonauthoritatively restore Active Directory, complete the following steps:

1. Restart the computer.
2. During the phase of startup where the operating system is normally selected, press F8.
3.On the Windows Advanced Options Menu, select Directory Services Restore Mode
and press Enter. This ensures that the domain controller is offline and is not con-
nected to the network.
4. At the Please Select The Operating System To Start prompt, select the appropriate
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system and press Enter.
5- Log on to your domain as Administrator.
6. In the Desktop message box that warns you that Windows is running in safe
mode, click OK.
7. Point to Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then select Backup.
8. On the Welcome To The Backup Or Restore Wizard page, click Next.
9. On the Backup Or Restore page, shown previously in Figure 3-8, select Restore
Files And Settings. Click Next.
10. On the What To Restore page, shown in Figure 3-26, expand the media type that contains the data that you want to restore in the Items To Restore box or click Browse. The media can be either tape or file. Expand the appropriate media set until the data that you want to restore is visible. Select the data you want to restore, such as system state, then click Next.
Backup Or Restore Wizard, What To Restore page with system state data selected for restore
11. Ensure that media containing the backup file is in the correct location,
12. On the Completing The Backup Or Restore Wizard page, do one of the following:
a Click Finish to start the restore process. The Backup Or Restore Wizard requests verification for the source of the restore data and then performs the restore. During the restore, the Backup Or Restore Wizard displays status information about the restore. MCSE

a Click Advanced to specify advanced restore options. Refer to the next section, "Specifying Advanced Restore Settings for a Nonauthoritative Restore" for details.
13- In the Warning message box that warns you that restoring system state will always overwrite current system state, click OK.
14. The Restore Progress dialog box displays status information about the restore process.
As with the backup process, when the restore is complete, you can choose to view the
report of the restore. The report contains information about the restore, such as the
number of fries that have been restored and the duration of the restore process.
15. Close the report when you have finished viewing it and then click Close to close
the restore operation.
16.When prompted to restart the computer, click Yes.