reinstall server2016 - what happens to client machine profiles

[mkaye13]

i have server2016 running for years

i cloned my HD to an SSD 2-3 years ago

my SSD got very corrupted, running, but not allowing any windows updates for the past 2 years

i tried a lot of things to fix it, but it is unfixable

i cloned the old HD to a new SSD and started again with that

i had to fix the trust relationship with my clients and fix some serverfolders that i moved

i had 2 newer computers that were part of my domain and i am unable to get them joined again

the essentials connector fails

i also fixed the email for health reports and now have a long list of issues

i can try to go through each of them, but maybe it's time to start with a fresh install

if i do a new install what happens to my domain profiles on my client machines?

will i get new profiles and have to move everything from the older profiles?

[#2]

You could stand up a new one and migrate the domain over.

After clean install on new server cancel the ***Configure Windows Server Essentials***
Cancel the ***Configure Windows Server Essentials***
Start ***Server Manager***, ***Local Server***
Config static ip address
Rename computer, and join domain
After reboot Cancel the ***Configure Windows Server Essentials*** again
Start ***Server Manager***, ***Local Server***
Add Roles ***Active Directory***, ***DNS***
Post Deployment, promo
Make sure user is EnterpriseAdmin, SchemaAdmin, DomainAdmin groups
Transfer roles over from old server
(run ***cmd.exe*** with elevated)
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server-essentials/migrate/step-2--install-windows-server-es....     

[#3]

@mkaye13 

just checking if there's any progress or updates? please don't forget to mark helpful replies.    

[#4]

yes, i could, but it's near the bottom of my list for the moment

the thing i need fixed is that i have 2 computers that are part of my domain, but not on my older disk 

i see that they have been removed in the essentials device page

when i try to add them back in it fails after entering my admin credentials

i have uninstalled the essentials connector

there must be a log somewhere to help me diagnose, but i can't find it

still wondering what happens to my client profile if i reinstall from scratch?

i do have 1 error that i am wondering if it's stopping my newer computers from connecting

The dynamic DNS information cannot be updated

i don't use DHCP service on my server

[#5]

---

still wondering what happens to my client profile if i reinstall from scratch?

---

You have a new domain (different underlying GUID) even if you named it the same. All members will need joined to the new domain.     

[#6]

OK, time for anew install & migrate roles over...
will this plan work?
i have another computer to use temporarily
clone my corrupted disk, install in other computer (hope it sorts out the hardware change)
fresh install on current server
migrate roles over
is there a better plan?

[#7]

I'd avoid any cloning operations.     

[#8]

i'll have both disks on an independent computer for cloning, not an active boot disk?
still avoid?
i might have to go back to my original corrupted disk, wanted that option still open
not sure what booting it on another computer would do if i brought it back

[#9]

The steps I provided assumes a healthy functional domain source. You can check this with dcdiag, repadmin tools so I don't think the cloning should need to be a part of this process.     

[#10]

that is the problem, i don't have a healthy domain source
either my original corrupted SSD or HD
lets see if we can fix 1 problem at a time before i commit to migrating

here is the output from dcdiag /test:DNS
Doing initial required tests

Testing server: Default-First-Site-Name\SERVER2016
Starting test: Connectivity
......................... SERVER2016 passed test Connectivity

Doing primary tests

Testing server: Default-First-Site-Name\SERVER2016

Starting test: DNS

DNS Tests are running and not hung. Please wait a few minutes...
......................... SERVER2016 passed test DNS

Running partition tests on : ForestDnsZones

Running partition tests on : DomainDnsZones

Running partition tests on : Schema

Running partition tests on : Configuration

Running partition tests on : Avfusion

Running enterprise tests on : Avfusion.local
Starting test: DNS
Test results for domain controllers:

DC: Server2016.Avfusion.local
Domain: Avfusion.local


TEST: Basic (Basc)
Warning: Adapter 68:05:CA:4E:F9:77 has dynamic IP address (can be a misconfiguration)
Warning: adapter [00000001] Intel(R) Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter has invalid DNS server: 1.1.1.1 (<name unavailable>)
Warning: adapter [00000001] Intel(R) Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter has invalid DNS server: 8.8.8.8 (<name unavailable>)
Error: all DNS servers are invalid
Warning: The A record for this DC was not found
No host records (A or AAAA) were found for this DC

TEST: Records registration (RReg)
Error: Record registrations cannot be found for all the network adapters

Summary of test results for DNS servers used by the above domain controllers:

DNS server: 1.1.1.1 (<name unavailable>)
1 test failure on this DNS server
Name resolution is not functional. _ldap._tcp.Avfusion.local. failed on the DNS server 1.1.1.1

DNS server: 8.8.8.8 (<name unavailable>)
1 test failure on this DNS server
PTR record query for the 1.0.0.127.in-addr.arpa. failed on the DNS server 8.8.8.8 Name resolution is not functional. _ldap._tcp.Avfusion.local. failed on the DNS server 8.8.8.8

originally DNS was set to my gateway address - more errors with this
i then tried the address of Pihole that my gateway points to
& finally cloudflare & google
same errors - are they significant?

[#11]

dcdiag - this was the only failure
Starting test: SystemLog
An error event occurred. EventID: 0x0000272C
Time Generated: 12/10/2023 09:56:02
Event String: DCOM was unable to communicate with the computer 192.168.13.1 using any of the configured protocols; requested by PID a9c (C:\Windows\system32\dcdiag.exe).
An error event occurred. EventID: 0x0000272C
Time Generated: 12/10/2023 10:01:20
Event String: DCOM was unable to communicate with the computer 192.168.13.187 using any of the configured protocols; requested by PID 3df4 (C:\Windows\system32\dcdiag.exe).
An error event occurred. EventID: 0x0000272C
Time Generated: 12/10/2023 10:01:41
Event String: DCOM was unable to communicate with the computer 1.1.1.1 using any of the configured protocols; requested by PID 3df4 (C:\Windows\system32\dcdiag.exe).
An error event occurred. EventID: 0x0000272C
Time Generated: 12/10/2023 10:01:42
Event String: DCOM was unable to communicate with the computer 192.168.13.1 using any of the configured protocols; requested by PID 3df4 (C:\Windows\system32\dcdiag.exe).
An error event occurred. EventID: 0x0000272C
Time Generated: 12/10/2023 10:03:01
Event String: DCOM was unable to communicate with the computer 1.1.1.1 using any of the configured protocols; requested by PID 3768 (C:\Windows\system32\dcdiag.exe).
An error event occurred. EventID: 0x0000272C
Time Generated: 12/10/2023 10:03:34
Event String: DCOM was unable to communicate with the computer 8.8.8.8 using any of the configured protocols; requested by PID 3768 (C:\Windows\system32\dcdiag.exe).
An error event occurred. EventID: 0x0000272C
Time Generated: 12/10/2023 10:03:47
Event String: DCOM was unable to communicate with the computer 192.168.13.1 using any of the configured protocols; requested by PID 3768 (C:\Windows\system32\dcdiag.exe).
......................... SERVER2016 failed test SystemLog

[#12]

Please close this one by marking best response then open a new thread to discuss the domain health issue.