I had a fatal crash on a domain controller and had to do
a clean install of W2003 Enterprise.

After installation when I tried to promote the server
(dcpromo)back to a domain controller, AD told me the item
already existed.

So-o-o-o. I went to AD to delete the servername entry so
I could start over add it back in to the Domain
Controller folder, and it would not allow me to do it.

I went to the Microsoft KB and checked out 322684 for
command line functions for AD management, but there was
no command line entry information for either forcing the
demotion/deletion of a domain controller or forcing the
promotion of a server to a domain name entry already
registered in AD.

Any suggestions? Thanks

Medman wrote:

You have to remove the metadata for the domain controller from the
directory as well as the computer account.

metadata cleanup from the ntdsutil command line utility is what you need.

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;216498 has
instructions assuming iy wasn't the only dc in the domain. Search
support.microsoft.com for deleting orphaned domains if it wqas the only
dc in the domain

After removing the metadata using the instructions in KB216498 the Domain
Controller may still show up in the Active Directory Users and Computers
Snap-In. Over the course of time, after the pointers that exist in the GUI
are updated with the information in the directory, you shold be able to
manually delete the object in Users and Computers.

lionelg@online.microsoft.com

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

| Medman wrote:
|
| > Any suggestions? Thanks
|
| You have to remove the metadata for the domain controller from the
| directory as well as the computer account.
|
| metadata cleanup from the ntdsutil command line utility is what you need.
|
| http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;216498 has
| instructions assuming iy wasn't the only dc in the domain. Search
| support.microsoft.com for deleting orphaned domains if it wqas the only
| dc in the domain
|