can you run metadata cleanup with server being a member server

Run it from your other domain controller.

You run the metadata cleanup on a working DC but you delete all lingering data on the old dc that is still existing in AD. Make sure you delete any SRV records in DNS to for the failed DC.

http://www.petri.co.il/delete_failed_dcs_from_ad.htm

That's sort of correct.

NTDSUTIL is run on the DC that is still functional.  It doesn't remove any data ON the old DC at all, since it's failed.  You can't read or write from it.  Luckily, you don't have to.  All you have to do is remove the information ABOUT the old DC from AD.  Basically you are making it so the functional DC doesn't know the other one existed.

After you do this, do NOT attempt to fix that other DC or turn it back on.  It's gone.  Kaput.  Finito.  Permanently.


That petri link is a good guide to follow to accomplish this.


HTH,
exx

what about the failed dc's name?  i have already joined a new member server (completely different server)  with the failed dc's name.

That is fine if you do the metadata cleanup then delete any SRV records and the A record. Then do a ipconfig /registerdns. You shouldn't have any problems but next time make sure you do a metadata cleanup on a failed DC. Also, when you reuse the name of a computer make sure to delete any objects with this name for the old computer before naming a new computer with the same name.

Wait a minute..  You joined a new server using the old DCs name without first doing a metadata cleanup?  That should not even have been possible..

You're leaving out some piece of data here, something else you did already..

no, nothing else.  There is now a member server on the domain with the exact name of the forced out domain controller.  The only issue that i am currently trying to fix is the file replicaiton between my 2 remaining dc's.  Which i suspect could be corrected with metadata cleanup.

Can you run a netdiag then post results.

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

C:\Documents and Settings\dhcadmin>netdiag

....................................

    Computer Name: NASHTNFS
    DNS Host Name: NASHTNFS.nashshe.sheraton-nashville.com
    System info : Windows 2000 Server (Build 3790)
    Processor : x86 Family 15 Model 6 Stepping 5, GenuineIntel
    List of installed hotfixes :
        KB921503
        KB924667-v2
        KB925398_WMP64
        KB925902
        KB926122
        KB927891
        KB929123
        KB930178
        KB931784
        KB931836
        KB932168
        KB933360
        KB933566
        KB933729
        KB933854
        KB935839
        KB935840
        KB936021
        KB936357
        KB936594
        KB936641
        KB936782
        KB938127
        KB939315
        KB939653
        KB941202
        KB941672
        KB943460
        Q147222


Netcard queries test . . . . . . . : Passed



Per interface results:

    Adapter : Local Area Connection 2

        Netcard queries test . . . : Passed

        Host Name. . . . . . . . . : NASHTNFS
        IP Address . . . . . . . . : 192.168.25.5
        Subnet Mask. . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
        Default Gateway. . . . . . : 192.168.25.2
        Dns Servers. . . . . . . . : 192.168.25.5


        AutoConfiguration results. . . . . . : Passed

        Default gateway test . . . : Passed

        NetBT name test. . . . . . : Passed
        [WARNING] At least one of the <00> 'WorkStation Service', <03> 'Messenge
r Service', <20> 'WINS' names is missing.

        WINS service test. . . . . : Skipped
            There are no WINS servers configured for this interface.


Global results:


Domain membership test . . . . . . : Passed


NetBT transports test. . . . . . . : Passed
    List of NetBt transports currently configured:
        NetBT_Tcpip_{DA25164D-DCFA-4EB7-82EB-8D9C2F1674D6}
    1 NetBt transport currently configured.


Autonet address test . . . . . . . : Passed


IP loopback ping test. . . . . . . : Passed


Default gateway test . . . . . . . : Passed


NetBT name test. . . . . . . . . . : Passed
    [WARNING] You don't have a single interface with the <00> 'WorkStation Servi
ce', <03> 'Messenger Service', <20> 'WINS' names defined.


Winsock test . . . . . . . . . . . : Passed


DNS test . . . . . . . . . . . . . : Passed
    PASS - All the DNS entries for DC are registered on DNS server '192.168.25.5
' and other DCs also have some of the names registered.


Redir and Browser test . . . . . . : Passed
    List of NetBt transports currently bound to the Redir
        NetBT_Tcpip_{DA25164D-DCFA-4EB7-82EB-8D9C2F1674D6}
    The redir is bound to 1 NetBt transport.

    List of NetBt transports currently bound to the browser
        NetBT_Tcpip_{DA25164D-DCFA-4EB7-82EB-8D9C2F1674D6}
    The browser is bound to 1 NetBt transport.


DC discovery test. . . . . . . . . : Passed


DC list test . . . . . . . . . . . : Passed


Trust relationship test. . . . . . : Skipped


Kerberos test. . . . . . . . . . . : Passed


LDAP test. . . . . . . . . . . . . : Passed


Bindings test. . . . . . . . . . . : Passed


WAN configuration test . . . . . . : Skipped
    No active remote access connections.


Modem diagnostics test . . . . . . : Passed

IP Security test . . . . . . . . . : Skipped

    Note: run "netsh ipsec dynamic show /?" for more detailed information


The command completed successfully

C:\Documents and Settings\dhcadmin>

Everything looks in order. What are the errors you are getting? If you named the DC the same name as the demoted DC you might need to demote the one with the same name. Do a metadata cleanup and clean DNS of all entries with this name then re-promote.