PreReq: Stop Active Directory on your computer.
Note: 64bit users: there may be a solution! check the bottom of the page FIRST
1. Install the w7 AdminPak (RSAT)
Remote Server Administration Tools for Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=7d2f6ad7-656b-4313-a005-4e344e43997d#filelist
2.Install IIS and Remote Server Admin Tools (Active Directory Users and Computers)
Use the “Turn Windows features on or off” feature to add IIS Stuff and the RSAT Stuff

4. Copy some files to your windows system32 folder.
I used the files from my XP installation with these bat files, you will have to get them yourself
(REMEMBER: you need to run the cmd promt as administrator, use the one in accessories, right click it)
Text file of files that need to be copied
Bat file to copy from old install (assuming D:\windows\system32\)
If you dont have these files available, you might find them here
5. Register the files
(same deal with cmd promt as administrator)
eg:
regsvr32 /s adprop.dll
regsvr32 /s ws03res.dll
(THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE THERE IS MANY MORE FILES THAN THIS! USE THE FILE BELOW)
Download Batch file here
5. Vista ESM
Download from here
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3403d74e-8942-421b-8738-b3664559e46f&displaylang=en
Run it to extract the MSI, this will put another ESMVISTA.msi file in a subdir of your choosing, running the below command straight on this file does not work.
start a command prompt with admin rights, start->all programs-> accessories-> RIGHT CLICK on Command prompt and click run as administrator
goto the folder with the extracted MSI file, and run it with the /q switch to get rid of the ‘not for vista’ error (so ESMVISTA.MSI /Q)
eg: c:\users\you\downloads\esm\vista\esmvista.msi /q
Wait at least 10 minutes while it does its thing.
It is is a silent install, you wont see anything, but I have had cases of it breaking because people started AD too soon.
5B. no really!
Actually wait at least 10 minutes, it WILL NOT WORK if you start AD too soon, and you have to start again. If you have a very slow computer, leave it longer.
6. Run Active Directory
Run Active Directory users and computers from your start menu.
If you would like to contact me, please email admin@pyrocam.com
64bit Users READ THIS!
this comment from bacanter01 on windows7forums may help
I noticed that mmc runs in x64 mode even if you run mmc from the system32 folder. If you start mmc with the /32 switch then you can add ADUC and see the exchange tabs. It didn’t work until I installed SP1 but all you need to do is install RSAT > install the ESM tools for Vista with the /q switch (watch for MSIEXEC to stop in the task manager before you try to run it) > Install SP1 > Run mmc with the /32 switch. I haven’t tried installing ESM after the SP1 install but it work everytime if you install it afterwards.
Changelog
1.0 put up
1.1 Grammar etc, added mirror for files
1.3 updated with new links to RSAT
1.4 tested again on new W7 install, worked 🙂
1.5 removed long lists of files, replaced with bat files
1.6 30/11/2010: tidied up one of the commands that missed some slashes, added a comment about the example file registrations being only an example, added another step to remind people to leave the silent install a bit longer.
1.7 3/9/2011: added comment that may help 64bit users
1.8 10/09/11 : added some more steps to the extraction of the MSI stuff