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The following is a step-by-step guide to installing Active Directory Domain Services in the Windows Server 2008 R2 Beta.

Disclaimer
The following is based on the Beta build of Windows Server 2008 R2. Therefore, it may change by the time RTM is released.

For the purpose of this step-by-step guide, the following were used:

• Brand new installation of Active Directory Domain Services, which translates to a new domain in a new forest.
• The DNS server service will be installed on the server along with AD DS.

1. Click Start, click, Run, type dcpromo, and hit OK.
2. The Active Directory Domain Services binaries will be installed, as shown below.     
3. Once the AD DS binaries have been installed, the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard will appear.
4. On the Welcome to the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard page, select the Use advanced installation mode option, and then click Next.     
5. On the Operating System Compatibility page, click Next.     
6. On the Configure Domain Name System Client Settings page, select the Automatically correct the problem by installing DNS Server Service on this computer. This will also configure the IP settings to use this DNS server for name resolution option, and then click Next.     
7. On the Choose a Deployment Configuration page, select the Create a new domain in a new forest option, and then click Next.    
8. On the Name the forest root domain page, enter the fully qualified DNS name, and then click Next.    
9. On the Domain NetBIOS Name page, validate the NetBIOS name, and then click Next.    
10. On the Set Forest Functional Level page, select the forest functional level you want to use, and then click Next.    
11. On the Additional Domain Controller Options page, click Next.    
12. On the delegation for DNS delegation, click Yes.    
13. On the Location for Database, Log Files, and SYSVOL page, modify the locations as desired, and then click Next.    
14. On the Directory Services Restore Mode Administrator Password page, enter and confirm a password, and then click Next.    
15. On the Summary page, click Next.
16. The Active Directory Installation Wizard begins installing AD DS.    
17. On the Completing the Active Directory Domain Services Installation Wizard page, verify the installation was successful, and then click Finish.    
18. On the prompt to restart the server, click Restart Now.