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Unable to re-add a 2003 domain controller after an OS reinstall

I had two Win 2003 domain controllers. Long story short, I recently had to reinstall the OS on one of them. Since I reinstalled the OS, whenever I try to re-add the server back to the domain, I receive an error stating that the domain controller already exists in Active Directory. Same results when I run dcpromo on it. I tried to delete it out of Active Directory so I could re-add it but I only receive the message stating that I need to run dcpromo to demote the domain controller before I can delete it. I obviously cannot run dcpromo on it to demote it since it isnt a domain controller anymore. I know I could just make up a new name for it but then I still have an extra domain controller in AD that doesnt exist.

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Sembee

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Lee W, MVP

You need to clean up Active Directory. Reference these links for instructions:

http://home.earthlink.net/~rlively/MANUALS/COMMANDS/N/NTDSUTIL.HTM
http://www.petri.co.il/delete_failed_dcs_from_ad.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/Operations/012793ee-5e8c-4a5c-9f66-4a486a7114fd.mspx
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/13414/13414.html

einjester

ASKER

Actually I went straight to http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/13414/13414.html
and ran the cleanup with ntdsutil as directed. Still was a no go at this point. Next, as the article suggested I went to
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=216498&product=nts40 and followed those directions all the way down to completing the instructions on cleanup from running adsiedit.msc. After that I was able to re-add my domain controller with complete success. This site rocks! Thanks a million!!