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 Enter key.

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 forest radio 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 domain field.
 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 Password fields.
 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 completion checkbox 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.