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Server 2003 Domain Controller Error 0xc00002e1, No DS Restore Mode Password

I have a scenario with a school district which my company helps out on occaision. They have new server hardware on the way, however, their current Primary Domain Controller came up with error code 0xc00002e1, and they have no backup DC at the moment. They have no record of the Directory Services Restore Mode password, and I am not sure if there is any reasonable way to resolve this.

To top it off, the last (and only recent) full backup is corrupt. I have run a recovery on the .bkf with no traces of the ntds.dit file being present. We may have to go back to the January full backup if anything.

My thought is to boot off of an (Ubuntu) linux CD that can recognize the raid array, and copy the corrupt (I assume) NTDS.dit file and run the esentutil.exe operations on the file using another machine, then replace it onto the DC using linux.

Mike Kline

A school district running with only 1 DC and no backups and no DSRM password...ouch!!

Can't say I've done this personally. The guys at CB5 recently dealt with something similar

http://cbfive.com/blog/post/Unorthodox-Forest-Recovery.aspx

You can try what they did; this is a tough one. May be worth a PSS call to get the school back up and running if you can.

Thanks

Mike

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