After installing windows server and completing the standard windows updates, follow these simple steps.
- Verify you have a static IP and networking setup.
- Open Computer Management
- Update/Change the computer administrator account
- restart
- Open Server Manager
- Select Local Server
- Update Computer name and workgroup
- restart
- Add roles and Features
- Select Active Directory Domain Services, accept popup
- Select DNS Server
- Next -> Install
- Once complete, from notifications select "Promote this server to a domain controller" option.
- Select add a new forest and input your domain name,
- Next
- Select function level or leave default if you have no older servers that you plant to connect
- pick a DSRM password
- Next -> Install
- The computer should reboot itself now
Setup should now be complete.