I have restored Win Server 2008 r2 + SQL backed up using Windows backup. It works but might take time depending on the data size, but I imagine an AD box doesn’t have much. I like Geoffrey’s suggestion of installing a backup AD, if you don’t already have 1. From: MotoBaridi via skunkworks [mailto:skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke] Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 11:29 AM To: [db]; Skunkworks Mailing List Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] DC storage challenges "does windows backup take good care of AD and Group Policy and all other things that burden a Win Server?" yes it does (done & done on win2012 server r2)... -- keep calm, i'm a rocket surgeon On Wed, Jul 29, 2015 at 11:06 AM, [db] via skunkworks <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> > wrote: thanks Peter, I have always had misgivings about pulling down something that serves 200+ users round the clock. This, despite the fact that there is an alternate that also needs some work (not trustworthy). But just out of need to know, does windows backup take good care of AD and Group Policy and all other things that burden a Win Server? On 29 July 2015 at 06:27, Peter Mugoh <pkmugoh@gmail.com <mailto:pkmugoh@gmail.com> > wrote: If worst arises, do a backup of your DC using Windows Backup. Do a clean installation of Windows Server with the partitions you want, then restore the DC backup. Regards, Peter Mugoh Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: "\[db\] via skunkworks" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> > Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2015 19:40:33 To: Skunkworks forum<Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> > Reply-To: "\[db\]" <dimbega@gmail.com <mailto:dimbega@gmail.com> >, Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> > Subject: [Skunkworks] DC storage challenges _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24 <http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94> &t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke _______________________________________________ skunkworks mailing list skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> ------------ List info, subscribe/unsubscribe http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24 <http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94> &t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke