cannot remove AD from w2003.

Hi all,


I have a w2k server acting as the infrastrure DC and windows DC. Initially, I installed AD on w2003 server after following the guidelines given. Now, I tried to remove AD from the W2003 and it prompt me Access is denied. I logged as a administrator. Please advice

 

I have no idea what an 'infrastructure DC' might be.

But your 'windows DC' machines (all 2K servers?) should have been managing the AD database.

When you speak of installing AD on the 2K3 box, are you just saying you made it another DC, or that you installed Active Directory / Application Mode (AD/AM or ADAM) or that you now have your domain using the 2K3 version of AD, or something else altogether?

 

I realised dcpromo /forceremoval removes the server from the AD but I have to manually remove all the entries in the AD, be it schema ,forest sites&services etc. Would like to know where are all the entries hidden?

thanks

 

The wording you see when you run dcpromo /forceremoval is a little confusing.

Dcpromo is a command you run on a domain controller (2K or 2K3) to demote it from domain controller to member server but it remains in the same domain.

Basically, after completion of dcpromo the server no longer tries to maintain an updated version of the SAM database that contains all the Active Directory data. But you are removing the Active Directory Database from a server rather than removing the server from anything or any place.

Good instructions in Using the DCPROMO /FORCEREMOVAL Command to Force the Demotion of Active Directory Domain Controllers for getting rid of any stubborn parts that refused to go away after a demotion via dcpromo.