Non Authoritative Restore of SSD

If you have physical access to a domain controller, you can restart the domain controller in Directory Services Restore Mode locally. Restarting in Directory Services Restore Mode takes the domain controller offline. In this mode, the server is not functioning as a domain controller.
When you start Windows Server 2003 in Directory Services Restore Mode, the local Administrator account is authenticated by the local Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database. Therefore, logging on requires that you use the local administrator password, not an Active Directory domain password. This password is set during Active Directory installation when you provide the password for Directory Services Restore Mode.
Administrative credentials
To perform this procedure, you must provide the Administrator password for Directory Services Restore Mode.
To restart the domain controller in Directory Services Restore Mode locally
1. Restart the domain controller.
2. When the screen for selecting an operating system appears, press F8.
3. On the Windows Advanced Options menu, select Directory Services Restore Mode.
4. When you are prompted, log on as the local administrator.

Note:
By performing a nonauthoritative restore on Active Directory, you automatically perform a nonauthoritative restore of the system volume (SYSVOL); no additional steps are required.

Restore from backup media
Updated: August 22, 2005
To restore the server, use a good backup containing the system state or the system state and system disk.

Note:
To restore from backup, you must log on locally to the domain controller or Remote Desktop must be enabled on the remote domain controller so that you can connect remotely.
Administrative credentials
To perform this procedure, you must provide the Administrator password for Directory Services Restore Mode.
To restore from backup media
1. Start the computer in Directory Services Restore Mode.
2. To start the Windows Server 2003 backup utility, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Backup.
This procedure provides steps for restoring from backup in Wizard Mode. By default, the Always Start in Wizard Mode check box is selected in the Backup or Restore Wizard. If the Welcome to the Backup Utility Advanced Mode page appears, click Wizard Mode to open the Backup or Restore Wizard.
3. On the Welcome to the Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Next.
4. Click Restore files and settings, and then click Next.
5. Select System State, and then click Next.
6. On the Completing the Backup or Restore Wizard page, click Advanced.
7. In Restore files to, click Original Location, and then click Next.
8. Click Leave existing files (Recommended), and then click Next.
9. In Advanced Restore Options, select the following check boxes, and then click Next:
• Restore security settings
• Restore junction points, but not the folders and file data they reference
• Preserve existing volume mount points

10. For a primary restore of SYSVOL, also select the following check box: When restoring replicated data sets, mark the restored data as the primary data for all replicas.
A primary restore is required only if the domain controller that you are restoring is the only domain controller in the domain. A primary restore is required on the first domain controller that is being restored in a domain if you are restoring the entire domain or forest.
11. Click Finish.


12. When the restore process is complete, click Close, and then do one of the following:
• If you do not want to authoritatively restore any objects, click Yes to restart the computer. The system will restart and replicate any new information that is received since the last backup with its replication partners.
• If you want to authoritatively restore any objects or if you want to create an LDAP Data Interchange Format (LDIF) file to restore back-links on this domain controller, click No to remain in Directory Services Restore Mode.