Failed to transfer the schema FSMO role: 52 - Here is the FIX

[Philip W. Burton]

It seems like many people are having the following problem when trying
to update their schema so that they can add a Windows 2003 server into
a Windows 2000 Active Directory environment. I tried to do this over
the weekend, and got the same error. I looked on Microsoft's site and
Google groups for the answer, but ended up figuring it out on my own.
Here is what resolved the followning error for me.

ERROR:

Hi guys i am trying to upgrade my win2000 AD Schema to Support Win2003
Domains ..so i use the ADPREP /FORESTPREP from the win2003/ i386 CD
and iget
thi's ERROR :

ERROR: Failed to transfer the schema FSMO role: 52 (Unavailable).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------- WHY..?

Full Eroor INFO :

Opened Connection to 2000ADV
SSPI Bind succeeded
Current Schema Version is 13
Upgrading schema to version 30
ERROR: Failed to transfer the schema FSMO role: 52 (Unavailable).
If the error code is "Insufficient Rights", make sure you are logged
in as a
mem
ber of the schema admin group.
Adprep was unable to upgrade the schema on the schema master.
[Status/Consequence]
The schema will not be restored to its original state.
[User Action]
Check the Ldif.err log file in the
C:\WINNT\system32\debug\adprep\logs\200201111
35657 directory for detailed information.

Adprep was unable to update forest-wide information.
[Status/Consequence]
Adprep requires access to existing forest-wide information from the
schema
maste
r in order to complete this operation.
[User Action]
Check the log file, Adprep.log, in the
C:\WINNT\system32\debug\adprep\logs\20020
111135657 directory for more information.

FIX:
I was following the steps for running ADPREP/ FORESTPREP, and I had
disconnected my Schema Master from the network, and got the error
mentioned above. I checked, and my user was an Enterprise Admin, but
NOT a Schema Admin. I added the user to the Schema Admins group, but
still got this error. The problem is that after I added the user to
the Schema Admins group, this change had not replicated to the other
servers, because this server is disconnected from the network. I ran
REPADMIN /SHOWREPS and it had changes (the addition of my user to the
Schema Admins group) to the Active Directory that had not replicated
yet. I plugged my server back up to the network, waited about 5
minutes for it to replicate, then unplugged it from the network and
reran ADPREP /FORESTPREP, and it ran perfectly. Note that during this
whole time I was getting errors, the error message never changed, it
kept saying "Insufficient Rights", even though my user was now a
member of the proper groups. Make sure that your user is a member of
all necessary groups (I think Enterprise Admins and Schema Admins are
the 2 that are necessary) BEFORE you disconnect your Schema Master
from the network.

Hope this helps

-Philip W. Burton MCSE, CNE
pbu...@mckimcreed.com

[Dean Wells [MVP]]

Are you running ADPREP on the Schema FSMO itself?

--
Dean Wells [MVP / Windows platform]
MSEtechnology
[[ Please respond to the Newsgroup only regarding posts ]]
R e m o v e t h e m a s k t o s e n d e m a i l

[Philip W. Burton]

Yes, I was running adprep on the Schema FSMO.

"Dean Wells [MVP]" <dwe...@mask.msetechnology.com> wrote in message news:<#Fnr18Ln...@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl>...

[Dean Wells [MVP]]

Do you still have the problem?