Complete Server 2008 Step By Step Tutorial v2

7. When your computer in safe mode, you‟ll see the word Safe Mode in the corners
of the display (Figure 0838).

Figure 0838 : Safe Mode

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8. After the computer has started in safe mode, shut the computer down. Click Start
► Shut Down (Figure 0839).

Figure 0839 : Shut Down Server

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ACTIVE DIRECTORY SERVICE REPAIR MODE
The active directory database is stored in the file ntds.dit in the folder NTDS. As changes
occur to Active Directory over time, the database file becomes fragmented. An
administrator should perform a backup of the Active Directory database file.
In this exercise you will boot the computer using a startup option by pressing F8 at
startup. This will allow you to enter a mode where you can repair the Active Directory
files, or back-up and restore Active Directory.

9. Switch ON your server and repeatedly press the F8 key while it displays the boot
sequence at the bottom of the screen. You need to press F8 key before the
Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again
(Figure 0840).

Figure 0840 : Boot Screen

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10. Select the Directory Services Restore Mode option and press Enter (Figure 0841).

Figure 0841 : Advanced Boot Options

11. Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE and log on to the server as Administrator with
Active Directory password you set in the earlier exercise - @xercisE (Figure
0842).

Figure 0842 : Administrator Login

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Backup Active Directory Service
EXERCISE 19.8
In this exercise you will back-up Active Directory.

12. Launch the Run application. Click Start ► Run… (Figure 0843).

Figure 0843 : Launch the Run Application
13. Key-in cmd in the Open : box and click the OK button to launch the Command

Prompt application (Figure 0844).

Figure 0844 : Run Windows

14. Access the C:\Windows\ntds folder
Type the following command in command prompt:
14.1. cd\ and press Enter (Figure 0845).

Figure 0845 : Command Prompt – cd\

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14.2. cd c:\windows\ntds and press Enter (Figure 0846).
Figure 0846 : Command Prompt – cd c:\windows\ntds

14.3. dir/w and press Enter (Figure 0847).

Figure 0847 : Command Prompt – dir/w

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15. Backup the Active Directory Service database by copying the ntds.dit file to a
new file named ntdsbackup.dit
Key-in the following command to back-up the ntds.dit file:
copy ntds.dit ntdsbackup.dit
and press Enter (Figure 0848).

Figure 0848 : Command Prompt – copy file
16. Reconfirm the backup file is successfully created by typing the following

command:
dir/w and press Enter (Figure 0849).

Figure 0849 : Command Prompt – display directory contents

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Create The Active Directory Service Error
EXERCISE 19.9
In this exercise you will create Active Directory error by deleting the Active Directory
Service database file.

17. Delete the ntds.dit file by execute the following command:
del ntds.dit
and press Enter (Figure 0850).

Figure 0850 : Command Prompt – delete file
18. Restart your Server. Click Start ► Restart (Figure 0851).

Figure 0851 : Restart Server

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19. Select Operating System: Reconfiguration (Planned) and click OK button
(Figure 0852).

Figure 0852 : Shutdown Event Tracker
Could you log on to the server?
Why this happened?
This problem happened normally because the server cannot find the Active
Directory Service database file or maybe the Active Directory Service database
file is corrupted. In the earlier exercise you have deleted the Active Directory
database file (ntds.dit) to create this problem.
20. Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE to restart your server.

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21. When the computer restarts, repeatedly press the F8 key while it displays the
boot sequence at the bottom of the screen. You need to press F8 key before the
Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again
(Figure 0853).

Figure 0853 : Boot Screen
22. Select the Directory Services Restore Mode option and press Enter (Figure 0854).

Figure 0854 : Advanced Boot Options

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Restore Active Directory Service
EXERCISE 19.10
In this exercise you will restore Active Directory.

23. Press CTRL + ALT + DELETE and log on to the server as Administrator with
Active Directory password you set in the earlier exercise - @xercisE (Figure
0855).

Figure 0855 : Administrator Login
24. Launch the Run application. Click Start ► Run… (Figure 0856).

Figure 0856 : Launch the Run Application

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25. Key-in cmd in the Open : box and click the OK button to launch the Command
Prompt application (Figure 0857).

Figure 0857 : Run Windows
26. Access the C:\Windows\ntds folder

Type the following command in command prompt:
26.1. cd\ and press Enter (Figure 0858).

Figure 0858 : Command Prompt – cd\
26.2. cd c:\windows\ntds and press Enter (Figure 0859).

Figure 0859 : Command Prompt – cd c:\windows\ntds

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