Menu

Running Adprep

Before you can replace your old computer with a new computer that is running a new version of Windows Server, you need to first prepare the Active Directory schema by running adprep.

The adprep console utility will upgrade the Active Directory schema to add new object types required by the new operating system.

If you forget to run adprep, U-Move will display a warning message to remind you.

Windows Server 2012-2022: Windows will automatically run adprep during the promotion of the new domain controller.

How To Run Adprep

Windows Server 2008 R2 (or earlier): You need to run adprep on the domain controller that owns the Schema Master FSMO role. This is typically the root DC for the entire AD forest.

Use the copy of ADPREP.EXE that is located on the installation DVD for the new operating system.

Prepare the AD Forest and Domain

1. Apply the schema update to the Active Directory. On the old domain controller (DC) that owns the Schema Master FSMO role, insert the DVD disk for the new operating system and type the following:
   

   D:
cd \support\adprep
adprep /forestprep

   For D: substitute the disk letter of your DVD drive. If you are running a 32-bit operating system, type adprep32 instead of adprep.
    
   If you are unsure which DC hosts the Schema Master role, you can view the FSMO roles by typing the command netdom query fsmo.
    
   This will apply the schema update to the AD forest.
    
2. Apply the domain update. On the old domain controller (DC) that owns the Infrastructure Master FSMO role, insert the DVD disk for the new operating system and type the following:
   

   D:
\support\adprep
adprep /domainprep /gpprep

   For D: substitute the disk letter of your DVD drive.
    
   This will apply the AD security and group-policy updates to the domain.

Manually running adprep on Windows Server 2012-2022

On the Windows Server installation DVD, you can find adprep at D:\Support\adprep\adprep.exe. Note that this is only the 64-bit version of adprep. Windows Server 2012-2022 does not provide a 32-bit version of adprep.

Running adprep is optional before adding a Windows Server 2012-2022 domain controller. This is because Windows Server will run it automatically for you as part of the domain controller promotion process. This is called transparent adprep.

More Information

For detailed information on using adprep see Running Adprep.exe and the Microsoft command reference for adprep (Microsoft Docs).

You only need to run adprep once. It is not harmful if you run adprep multiple times or run it on the wrong DC. It will display an error message and quit without changing anything.

Warning Message: Need to run adprep

If you have not yet successfully run adprep, U-Move will display a warning message and refuse to proceed.

How to override this warning