hi, After i tested the move method as described in the article http://www.swinc.com/resource/e2kfaq_appxa.htm on my test environment, it worked great. I started to do the same on my production environment. Briefly speaking we have a single domain spread across 5 regions with 1 DC at all regions. My present E2K server is on DC i want to move it to the new Compaq Proliant G3 server acting as a member server. i installed win2k server, sp3 and then installed E2k with sp3 and post sp3 hotfix. Now the new E2K server is not starting its services. i left it for 1 day thinking that it might require active directory to replicate. But still its not starting its services. i am stuck here. plsss help me. Following are the event viewer Application log details Event Type: Error Event Source: MSExchangeSA Event Category: General Event ID: 1005 Date: 6/3/2003 Time: 8:38:45 AM User: N/A Computer: **** Description: Unexpected error An unknown error has occurred. ID no: 80040a01 Microsoft Exchange System Attendant occurred. For more information, click http://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp. Event Type: Error Event Source: MSExchangeSA Event Category: General Event ID: 9004 Date: 6/3/2003 Time: 8:38:45 AM User: N/A Computer: **** Description: The Metabase Update service failed to start, error '80040a01'. For more information, click http://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp. Event Type: Error Event Source: MSExchangeMU Event Category: General Event ID: 1002 Date: 6/3/2003 Time: 8:38:45 AM User: N/A Computer: **** Description: Metabase Update agent failed to start. Error code is 80040a01. For more information, click http://www.microsoft.com/contentredirect.asp. Thanks IKM