Manual upgrade from SBS 2003 to 2012 R2 Essentials

[Slimj]

I am replacing a 2003 SBS server with a 2012 R2 Essentials server. Entirely new box. I've been reading many queries and guides for "migrating" the server, however I have a very small network in a law office with 4 workstations and only one real server based application which is our accounting and client management system. Everything else is file management for clients - i.e. documents. Exchange server is installed on the 2003 server, but I've never really used it, and don't feel the need to have it (at this time at least). I may decide in the future to use exchange server but that is another issue not for this discussion. So assume I don't need to migrate Exchange server/data. All our emails are handled on the local machines (I know, this is not ideal).

What I am considering doing is to simply back up all the data from the SBS server, break the whole network down, and then set up the new server and install our accounting software on the new server, then restore all the data and join the old workstations (all running windows 7) to the new server.

Here is the basic outline of the plan:

1. Backup all data on the 2003 server.
2. Un-join all the workstations from the 2003 server.
3. Set up the 2012 server, and restore all the data and install our accounting software.
4. Edit the Group Policies on the new server as required.
5. Install printers.
6. Join the 4 workstations to the new domain.
7. Set up the necessary shares and login scripts for the users.

With the small size of my network, I feel this would be just as fast as working through a migration process.

Any comments? Is this a crazy idea, or is there a reason that I should really go through the migration process?

Thanks

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