Install Active Directory Domain Services on

Windows Server 2008 R2

To install Active Directory Domain Services on Windows Services 2008 R2,
administrators must follow the steps given as below:

1. Log on to Windows Server 2008 R2 computer with the local administrator account on
which Active Directory Domain Services is to be installed.
2. On the desktop screen, press Windows + R keys simultaneously to
initiate Run command box.
3. On the Run command box, in the available field, type DCPROMO.EXE command and
press Enterkey.
4. Wait till the Active Directory Domain Services binaries are installed and click Next on
the Active Directory Domain Service Installation Wizard window when done.
5. On Operating System Compatibility page, click Next.
6. On Choose a Deployment Configuration page, click to select Create a new domain
in a new forestradio button.

Choose A Deployment Configuration

7. Click Next to continue.

8. On Name the Forest Root Domain page, specify the Fully Qualified Domain Name
(FQDN) for the new forest root domain in the FQDN of the forest root domainfield.
 Name of the Forest Root Domain

9. On Set Forest Functional Level page, leave everything as default and click Next.
 Set Forest Funtional Level

10. On Set Domain Functional Level page, leave everything as default and click Next.
11. On Additional Domain Controller Options page, make sure that DNS
server checkbox is checked, and click Next.
12. On the displayed warning box, click Yes to continue.
13. On the Location for Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL page, leave everything as
default and click Next.

Location For Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL

Note: It is recommended that SYSVOL folder, and Database and

Log files should always be stored at a different location for

optimum performance.

14. On the Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password page, type and
retype a complex password in the Password and Confirm Passwordfields.
 Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password

Note: Active Directory restore mode password is

required when administrators want to restore the Active Directory

in case of disaster. For security reasons, it is strongly recommended

that Active Directory restore mode password should always be different

than that of enterprise administrator or domain administrator account.

15. Once done, click Next to proceed.

16. On the Summary page, review the settings and click Next to start the Active Directory
Domain Services installation process.
17. Once Active Directory Domain Services installation process is complete, on the displayed
box, click Restart Now to restart the computer. Alternatively Reboot on
completioncheckbox can also be checked during AD DS installation process to restart
the computer automatically after the successful installation.
 Installing Active Directory Domain Services
Note: Although the above given steps can be followed to install Active
Directory Domain Services directly on Windows Server 2008 R2 computer,
AD DS binaries can also be installed manually by following the Active
Directory Domain Services installation wizard from Server
Manager.This process requires administrators to manually initiate
the DCPROMO.EXE command by clicking the available link on the
interface, after the successful installation of Active Directory Domain
Services binaries.