using ntdsutil to remove a DC from AD

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

I have a DC that crashed. It doesn't hold any of the fsmo roles. I was going
to demote it anyway. So, I pulled it off the network and want to clean up AD.
I ran ntdsutil on one of my other DC's. When I get to select operation target
and enter list domains, I get Not connected to a server - use connections.
The server is on the network and I have no connectivity issues, why do I get
this message? I tryed it on more than one DC, I get the same message... Tell
me what I need to post so you can help.

It was also used for DNS and DHCP, so any info or links on how to remove it
from them would be great too!

This is my first time doing this so please bare with me. Thanks! DJ

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com,

See your other posting in microsoft.public.win2000.active_directory and please
do not multipost, use crossposting with a newsreader like Outlook express.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

[Avinash]

I would recommend you follow the steps in article
216498 How to remove data in Active Directory after an unsuccessful domain
controller demotion
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/216498

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

I don't understand all of the cn= stuff. I'm not sure what goes where. I've
never done this before. Please help.

Remove selected server
cn=servername,cn=servers,cn=sitename,cn=sites,cn=configuration,dc=<forest_root_domain>

Sorry about the double posted. It's been one busy week.

Thanks,
DJ

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

We only have one Domain. The server to remove is 41-server-1 or 10.3.41.240.
It was at our Edgefield site... Note: The DC's are not in the DC OU, they are
in a OU called servers which are in the domain in an OU called library
systems, inside of an OU called servers. I don't know if this matters.

Regards,
DJ

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com,

Before going on move the DC's back to the DC OU, DC's should be always stay
under this OU. Do NOT move them to another OU.

And if you follow the articles from the links, you can remove them without
any problem.

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> We only have one Domain. The server to remove is 41-server-1 or

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

I didn't move them. They guy before set them up that way. If I move them,
will it mess anything else up. I knew they should be in the DC OU but I ws
scare to move them.

Regards,
DJ

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com,

If you post the OU's from domain name down to the server's OU, i think we
can provide you the way for CN= etc.

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

HI Meinolf,
Here's the path:
Domain = it.abbe-lib.org
-Library System
--Servers
---41-server-1

So, it is just the way AD looks at the path?

Thanks,
DJ

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

How do I know if this DC had a GC and if it's not the only one does it matter?

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com,

You should have in a single forest domain all DC's to be GC, see here also
for placement:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=313994

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com,

CN=41-server-1,OU=Servers,OU=Library System,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

No luck. I used quotes and thought I had it. I'm sure I'm entering something
wrong. Here's what I done. Please advice.

Microsoft Windows [Version 5.2.3790]
(C) Copyright 1985-2003 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\webexec>ntdsutil
ntdsutil: metadata cleanup
metadata cleanup: select target operation
select operation target:
select operation target: CN=41-server-1,OU=Servers,OU=Library
System,DC=it,DC=ab
be-lib,DC=org
Error 80070057 parsing input - illegal syntax?
select operation target: list domains
Not connected to a server - use "Connections"
select operation target: q
metadata cleanup: remove selected server "
Binding to localhost ...
Connected to localhost using credentials of locally logged on user.
Unable to determine the domain hosted by the DC (1). Please use the
connection m
enu to specify it.
metadata cleanup:
metadata cleanup: CN=41-server-1,OU=Servers,OU=Library
System,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,
DC=org
Error 80070057 parsing input - illegal syntax?
metadata cleanup: remove selected server "
No current server - use "Select operation target"
metadata cleanup:
metadata cleanup: CN=41-server-1,OU=Servers,OU=Library
System,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,
DC=org
Error 80070057 parsing input - illegal syntax?
metadata cleanup: remove selected server
"CN=41=Server-1,OU=servers,OU=Library S
ystem,DC-it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org"
A global connection already exists. No arguments should be specified.
metadata cleanup: remove selected server
No current server - use "Select operation target"
metadata cleanup: select operation target
select operation target: list sites
Found 7 site(s)
0 -
CN=Default-First-Site-Name,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=or
g
1 - CN=North_Augusta,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
2 - CN=Bamberg,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
3 - CN=Barnwell,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
4 - CN=Edgefield,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
5 - CN=Johnston,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
6 - CN=Blackville,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
select operation target: select site 4
Site - CN=Edgefield,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
No current domain
No current server
No current Naming Context
select operation target: list servers in site
Found 1 server(s)
0 -
CN=41-SERVER-1,CN=Servers,CN=Edgefield,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=ab
be-lib,DC=org
select operation target: select server 0
Site - CN=Edgefield,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
No current domain
Server -
CN=41-SERVER-1,CN=Servers,CN=Edgefield,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,
DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
DSA object - CN=NTDS
Settings,CN=41-SERVER-1,CN=Servers,CN=Edgefield,CN=
Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=it,DC=abbe-lib,DC=org
DNS host name - 41-Server-1.it.abbe-lib.org
Computer object - CN=41-SERVER-1,OU=Servers,OU=Library
System,DC=it,DC=a
bbe-lib,DC=org
No current Naming Context
select operation target: q
metadata cleanup: remove selected server
No current domain - use "Select operation target"
metadata cleanup: remove selected server
No current domain - use "Select operation target"
metadata cleanup:

Thanks,

[Meinolf Weber]

Hello DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com,

Use this one for the correct steps, choose procedure 1:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216498

Your error starts at:

metadata cleanup: select target operation

Best regards

Meinolf Weber
Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights.
** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups
** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> No luck. I used quotes and thought I had it. I'm sure I'm entering

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

When I get to server connections and enter connect to server, am I suppose to
enter the server I wish to remove or a DC that is online. When I enter the
server I wish to remove, I get this error, DsBindW error 0x6ba(The RPC server
is unavailable.)

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

Ok, I got it! Thanks!

As for those who are new to this, as I am. The is a much better link.
http://www.petri.co.il/delete_failed_dcs_from_ad.htm

Also, we you remove the server, If you got "Element not found error" this
only means, that there is nothing to clean up for some reason. So you can
ignore such messages.

[DonnaJab...@discussions.microsoft.com]

Ok, I got it! Thanks!

As for those who are new to this, as I am. The is a much better link.
http://www.petri.co.il/delete_failed_dcs_from_ad.htm

Also, we you remove the server, If you got "Element not found error" this
only means, that there is nothing to clean up for some reason. So you can
ignore such messages.

Regards,