Prerequisites

Prior to using Secure Start to guard your AD database:

1. Backup your AD database:

   1. Navigate to Administrative Tools.

   2. Click Windows Server Backup.

   3. Click Action > Backup Once.

   4. Follow the instructions in the Backup Wizard to create a backup of the server in a local drive.

   Note

   When the backup operation completes, it saves the server backup in <backup drive>:\WindowsImageBackup\<BackupComputerName>.

2. Perform a system state backup.

3. Obtain the Microsoft DSRM (Data Services Restore Mode) password.

4. Ensure that your AD database is not in c:\Windows\NTDS.

   Warning

   Do not put your AD database in c:\Windows or c:\Program files. Secure Start cannot encrypt or decrypt any files in those folders.