To raise the domain functional level

1. Open Active Directory Domains and Trusts.
2. In the console tree, right-click the domain for which you want to raise functionality, and then click Raise Domain Functional Level.
3. In Select an available domain functional level, do one of the following:
• To raise the domain functional level to Windows 2000 native, click Windows 2000 native, and then click Raise.
• To raise domain functional level to Windows Server 2003, click Windows Server 2003, and then click Raise.

Caution

• If you have or will have any domain controllers running Windows NT 4.0 and earlier, then do not raise the domain functional level to Windows 2000 native. Once the domain functional level is set to Windows 2000 native, it cannot be changed back to Windows 2000 mixed.

  If you have or will have any domain controllers running Windows NT 4.0 and earlier or Windows 2000, then do not raise the domain functional level to Windows Server 2003. Once the domain functional level is set to Windows Server 2003, it cannot be changed back to Windows 2000 mixed or Windows 2000 native.

Notes

• To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group in the domain for which you want to raise functionality or the Enterprise Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure.
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• You can also raise the domain functional level by right-clicking a domain displayed in Active Directory Users and Computers, and then clicking Raise Domain Functional Level.
• The current domain functional level is displayed under Current domain functional level in the Raise Domain Functional Level dialog box.

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