Removing a Domain Controller from Active Directory
If you run dcpromo on a DC to remove AD, the AD database will be updated to show that this server is no longer a DC. However, if a DC fails, you won't be able to run dcpromo.
If the DC has failed, AD still thinks it's an active DC. This causes a wide variety of errors that can be resolved if you remove the DC from AD, as shown in the following steps.
Step |
Command |
1. |
Start a command prompt with administrative permissions. |
2. |
Type ntdsutil and press Enter. |
3. |
Type metadata cleanup and press Enter. This accesses the metadata cleanup prompt. |
4. |
Type connections and press Enter. This accesses the connections prompt. |
5. |
Connect to an active DC in the domain with the following command. Substitute the FQDN of an active DC in your domain. connect to server dc-fqdn connect to server dc1.pearson.pub |
6. |
Type quit and press Enter. This brings you back to the metadata cleanup prompt. |
7. |
Type select operation target and press Enter. This accesses the select operation target prompt. |
8. |
Select the site where the damaged DC is located with the following commands. Substitute the number of the site in the second command based on the output of the list sites command. Type list sites and press Enter. Type select site number and press Enter. |
9. |
Select the damaged DC with the following commands. Substitute the number of the server in the second command based on the output of the list servers in site command. Type list servers in site and press Enter. Type select server number and press Enter. |
10. |
Type quit and press Enter. This brings you back to the metadata cleanup prompt. |
11. |
Type remove selected server and press Enter. This removes the instance of the server from AD. |
12. |
Type quit and press Enter. |