Old Backup Domain Controller issues wont allow dcpromo to make system a domain memeber.

I have a small domain that has a PDC only. The previous IT personnel took the BDC off line. I am now trying to bring that system back on the domain as a BDC. The system has been shut off all this time (about a year) All the data has been backed up. My plan was to back up the data, remove the server from any preexisting responsibilites, simply bring it back to basics as a domain member, then re-add it as a Backup domain controller with DNS AND WINS. When i go an run DCPROMO to demote the server i first get the error message , "this server is a global catelog server...." once again everything i need should be backed up and i dont mind losing everything as its been a year since its been used and any current information is on the PDC. i click ok then, it asks me if its the last domain controller on the network, its not so i click next, it then asks to set a pasword for the new admin account, i do that and click next, then it gives me a summery, then it starts to do its thing for a second when an error message comes up "Active directory installation failed,  the operation failed because: a domain controller cound not be contacted for the domain domainname.com that contained an account for this computer. Make the computer a member of a workgroup then rejoin the domain before retrying the promotion. "the specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted." i then click ok and it brings me back to the summery.
   I obviously cannot just go make it a workgroup system because its running as a domain controller. When i then go into active directory users and computers i get an error message "naming information cannot be located becuase: the target principal name is incorrect. contact your system admin to verify that your domain is properly configured and is currently onine."  I click ok and then AD opens. Now thisis one thing i am unsure of, the last IT guy somehow disabled AD, DNS, WINS so when you open up the management console, it says active directory users and computers with a red X. (does the same for DNS AND WINS).The only option it gives me to do is to tyr to connect it to a current domain controller, which it cannot find. I am able to ping the PDC from this system via name and IP. The system nic appears to be configured correctly and is able to access the web. When i try to navigate the view network, it sees the domainname, but no systems. It was pointing to itself for DNS, since local DNS is disabled i pointed it to the PDC for dns and no change. If i run NSLOOKUP it points to the right IP address and system name that the PDC is hosted on. But if i enter this systems (the bdc) name or ip it says its a non-existent domain, but does recognize all other systems.

This system is running windows server 2000 sp4, patches are currently being updated.

The only thing else i have tried is to download and run Microsofts recreatedefpol.exe utility to restore the settings. But it says it can only run if its the PDC and not the BDC.

Any help is greatly appreciated, please let mek now if you need any further clarification or need me to check something, i will respond promptly. Thanks,