<p>I have a number of databases on a Windows 2000 Server running the 32 bit version of SQL Server 2000. I need to transfer all the data and settings to a new server running the 64 bit version of SQL 2008 on Windows 2003 64 bit.</p>

<p>Is this as simple as backing up the databases and restoring to the new server. Will this work with the system databases (master, model, msdb) as well? If not, is there a way to automate the process of moving across the user accounts and permissions?</p>

<p>Is anybody aware of any other gotchas?</p>

<p>Many thanks for any help.</p>

<p>[EDIT] I've successfully tested an upgrade to SQL2008 32-bit, I'm mostly concerned with any differences in the 64-bit version as I don't have a 64 bit server I can test on at the moment e.g. I know you can't restore a SQL2000 master database to 2008; can you restore a SQL2008 32bit master to SQL2008 64bit? Downtime during the migration is not a problem.</p>

To transfer logins, you should be able to use the 'Transfer Logins Task' described in Books Online
here
.
Ross Mistry has published a few
articles
on SQL Server 2008 Installation Strategies and Best Practices. Also this
document
, although directed at specific hardware, contains useful info.
EDIT: Have you looked at the
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Upgrade Advisor
?