Determine when a Domain Controller was promoted

Question

On Windows Server 2003 standard is there a way to determine when a domain controller was promoted?

This is for an Active Directory 2000 functional domain.

The event logs don't go back far enough.

jscott · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-16 17:28:38Z

5

If you don't have Event Logs, you can check the creation date of the SYSVOL directory:

C:\> dir /T C C:\Windows\SYSVOL

Also of note is C:\WINDOWS\Debug\DCPROMO.LOG

answered Jun 16, 2011 at 17:14

jscott

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mfinni · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-16 18:20:33Z

1

AD has an attribute for DC's that is called whenCreated that stores a date/time field.

answered Jun 16, 2011 at 18:20

mfinni

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I was curious about this attribute. Is it updated when a member server is promoted to a DC? I ask because, on my DCs, the attribute date/time doesn't match the dcpromo.log. Also, all non-DC member servers also have this attribute.
– jscott
Jun 16, 2011 at 18:36
Good point. It must from be when the Computer entry is created in AD, which (except for the first DC) will not necessarily be when it is promoted.
– mfinni
Jun 16, 2011 at 18:37

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