<div>
This message is coming up because you have ADCS installed on this domain controller. This is a dependancy and ADCS needs to be moved to another server or removed completely before you can successfully demote the 2003 DC. <br />
<br />
Move ADCS to another server<br />
<a href="http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2014/11/12/step-by-step-migrating-the-active-directory-certificate-service-from-windows-server-2003-to-2012-r2.aspx" rel="ugc">http://blogs.technet.com/b/canitpro/archive/2014/11/12/step-by-step-migrating-the-active-directory-certificate-service-from-windows-server-2003-to-2012-r2.aspx</a><br />
<br />
Completely Remove ADCS from domain<br />
<a href="http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3527.how-to-decommission-a-windows-enterprise-certification-authority-and-how-to-remove-all-related-objects.aspx" rel="ugc nofollow">http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/3527.how-to-decommission-a-windows-enterprise-certification-authority-and-how-to-remove-all-related-objects.aspx</a><br />
<br />
Once you have decided what you want to do either move or decommission ADCS you can then demote the 2003 DC. <br />
<br />
Will.
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<div>
Will - Thank you. &nbsp;This is excellent information.<br />
<br />
I do have one more question (related).<br />
<br />
So, I had shut down the [2003] server for a couple of days, with no &quot;noise&quot; from users. &nbsp;What can help me determine whether there is in fact any dependence on this ADCS on Windows 2003?<br />
<br />
Thanks.
</div>


<div>
Thanks Will. &nbsp;Appreciate your assistance.
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<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
Hello,<br />
<br />
I am removing the final Windows 2003 server after having migrated all Active Directory roles (FSMO) to 2 other Windows 2008/Windows 2012 servers.<br />
<br />
When I run dcpromo on the Windows 2003 server, I am receiving the following prompt message:<br />
<br />
Active Directory Installation Wizard<br />
<br />
Before you can install or remove Active Directory, you must remove Certificate Services. &nbsp;For information about the consequence of removing Certificate Services, see Help And Support.<br />
<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2015/12_w49/1049212/Remove-Certificate-Services.JPG" target="_blank" title="Remove-Certificate-Services.JPG (23 KB)"><img alt="Remove-Certificate-Services.JPG" class="file-block lazyload" style="max-width: 632px;" data-src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2015/12_w49/1049212/Remove-Certificate-Services.JPG" /></a>I had previously shut down the Windows 2003 server to check if any issues floated up, but there were none.<br />
<br />
Any suggestions would be welcome. <br />
<br />
Regards,<br />
<br />
Real-Timer
</div>
</div>


Remove-Certificate-Services.JPG

Hello,

I am removing the final Windows 2003 server after having migrated all Active Directory roles (FSMO) to 2 other Windows 2008/Windows 2012 servers.

When I run dcpromo on the Windows 2003 server, I am receiving the following prompt message:

Active Directory Installation Wizard

Before you can install or remove Active Directory, you must remove Certificate Services.  For information about the consequence of removing Certificate Services, see Help And Support.

I had previously shut down the Windows 2003 server to check if any issues floated up, but there were none.

Any suggestions would be welcome. 

Regards,

Real-Timer

Removing last Windows 2003 server from domain. Receiving prompt to remove Certificate Services.

Windows Server 2012 is the server version of Windows 8 and the successor to Windows Server 2008 R2. Windows Server 2012 is the first version of Windows Server to have no support for Itanium-based computers since Windows NT 4.0. Windows Server 2012, now in its second release (Windows Server 2012 Release 2) includes Foundation, Essentials, Standard and Datacenter, and does not support IA-32 or IA-64 processors.

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Windows Server 2003

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