Hello, We have a Windows 2003 domain with Exchange 2003 in backend frontend topology. I also have a Windows 2008 additonal domain controller running in the domain, Currently Windows 2003 holds all FSMO roles. I am planning to implement Exchange 2010 server soon. While trying to prep the domain with Legacy Exchange permission I am having difficult running it on a Windows 2003 Enterprise x64 Server. I mounted Exchange 2010 media received from MS on this 64 bit primary doamin controller and from cmd prompt type in setup.com /pl. It failed saying "this application has failed to start because wer.dll was not found". I guess I could run the prep on a Windows 2003 X64 machine. Please advice. Thanks in advanceTom

You need to run this command from a 2008 server. See the following link. It will tell you what the requirements are of each prep command. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125224.aspxTim Harrington | MVP: Exchange | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010, MCITP: Server 2008, MCTS: OCS | Blog: http://HowDoUC.blogspot.com | Twitter: @twharrington

thanks, If you're running the release to manufacturing (RTM) version of Exchange 2010 Setup.com, in each domain (including child domains) where you have the Exchange Enterprise Servers and Exchange Domains Servers security groups (and therefore must run Setup /PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions), you must have at least one domain controller running any of the following: Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit) Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition with SP1 or later (32-bit or 64-bit) Windows Server 2008 Standard or Enterprise (32-bit or 64-bit) Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard or Enterprise I read this technote earlier and to me it appears Windows 2008 domain controller is not a requirement for Exchange 2010. A Windows 2003 64 bit box could perform all the active directory preps like legacy exchange permissions, schema, etc. Please clarify. Thanks Tom

You are correct, 2008 DC's are not required. But you must perform the prep switches from any 2008 member server (64-bit) that is in the same AD domain and AD site as your schema master. Most people use the server that they will be installing Exchange on, since that usually meets all the requirements.Tim Harrington | MVP: Exchange | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010, MCITP: Server 2008, MCTS: OCS | Blog: http://HowDoUC.blogspot.com | Twitter: @twharrington

Thanks very muchTom