How do I remove a nonexistent domain controller?

A. Windows 2000 tracks each domain controller (DC) in the metadata. If you remove a DC (e.g., through reinstallation or hardware removal) and you don’t run DCPROMO to clean up the DC’s metadata, connection objects will remain.

You can use the utility NTDSUTIL to remove a server from the metadata. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

D:\&gt;<b>ntdsutil</b><br>
ntdsutil: <b>metadata cleanup</b><br>
metadata cleanup: <b>select operation target</b>

Next, you must connect to a server. In my example, I select a domain to accomplish this task. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

select operation target: <b>connections</b><br>
server connections: <b>connect to domain savilltech.com</b><br>
Binding to \\TITANIC.savilltech.com ...<br>
Connected to \\TITANIC.savilltech.com using credentials of locally logged on user<br>
server connections: <b>quit</b>

Next, you must select a site, a server (i.e., the server you want to delete), and the domain the server is in. The order isn’t important. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

select operation target: <b>list sites</b><br>
Found 2 site(s)<br>
0 - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
1 - CN=Kent,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
select operation target: <b>select site 0</b><br>
Site - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
No current domain<br>
No current server<br>
No current Naming Context<br>
select operation target: <b>list servers in site</b><br>
Found 4 server(s)<br>
0 - CN=TITANIC,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
1 - CN=TITUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
2 - CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
3 - CN=TRINITY,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
select operation target: <b>select server 2</b><br>
Site - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
No current domain<br>
Server - CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
DSA object - CN=NTDS Settings,CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
DNS host name - MORPHEUS.deleteme.savilltech.com<br>
Computer object - CN=MORPHEUS,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
No current Naming Context<br>
select operation target: <b>list domains</b><br>
Found 3 domain(s)<br>
0 - DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
1 - DC=dev,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
2 - DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
select operation target: <b>select domain 0</b><br>
Site - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
Domain - DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
Server - CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
DSA object - CN=NTDS Settings,CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
DNS host name - MORPHEUS.deleteme.savilltech.com<br>
Computer object - CN=MORPHEUS,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
No current Naming Context<br>
select operation target: <b>quit</b>

Next, remove the server you selected. (In the following code, enter the command in bold.)

metadata cleanup: <b>remove selected server</b>

In the confirmation dialog box, which the Screen shows, click Yes.

Click here to view image

Close the utility. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

"CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com<br>
" removed from server "\\TITANIC.savilltech.com"<br>
metadata cleanup: <b>quit</b><br>
ntdsutil: <b>quit</b><br>
Disconnecting from \\TITANIC.savilltech.com ...

Finally, you need to delete the server from the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Active Directory Sites and Servers snap-in. Select Programs, Administrative Tools, Active Directory Sites and Services from the Start menu. Expand the Sites branch, select the site, expand the Services container, right-click the server, and select Delete. Click Yes in the confirmation dialog box. I have been informed of a possible problem with this is SP2 is installed in which case perform on a box without SP2 installed.