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Active Directory Forest Recovery - Back up the System State data

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Applies to: Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2, Windows Server 2008 and 2008 R2

Use the following procedure to perform a system state backup on a DC by using Windows Server Backup or wbadmin.exe.

Perform a system state backup using Windows Server Backup

  1. Open Server Manager, select Tools, and then select Windows Server Backup.
    • In Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008, select Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then select Windows Server Backup. Screenshot that highlights the Windows Server Backup menu option.
  2. If you're prompted, in the User Account Control dialog box, provide Backup Operator credentials, and then select OK.
  3. Select Local Backup.
  4. On the Action menu, select Backup once.
  5. In the Backup Once Wizard, on the Backup options page, select Different options, and then select Next. Screenshot that shows the Backup Options page with the Different Options option selected.
  6. On the Select backup configuration page, select Custom, and then select Next.
  7. On the Select Items for Backup screen, select Add Items and select System State and select Ok.
    • In Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008, select the volumes to include in the backup. If you select the Enable system recovery check box, all critical volumes are selected. Screenshot that shows the System State check box selected.
  8. On the Specify destination type page, select Local drives or Remote shared folder, and then select Next. If you're backing up to a remote shared folder, do the following:
    • Type the path to the shared folder.
    • Under Access Control, select Do not inherit or Inherit to determine access to the backup, and then select Next.
    • In the Provide user credentials for Backup dialog box, provide the user name and password for a user who has write access to the shared folder, and then select OK.
  9. For Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2008, on the Specify advanced option page, select VSS copy backup and then select Next.
  10. On the Select Backup Destination page, choose the backup location. If you selected local drive choose a local drive or if you selected remote share choose a network share.
  11. On the confirmation screen, select Backup.
  12. Once this has completed select Close.
  13. Close Windows Server Backup.

Perform a system state backup using Wbadmin.exe

Open an elevated command prompt, type the following command and press ENTER:

wbadmin start systemstatebackup -backuptarget:<targetDrive>:

Install backup

Next steps