FSMO error

[D Whicher]

Due to a operating system failure, our PDC died. The BDC
did take over and AD, DNS and WINS seems fine but when I
try to change the RID master, in the Operations master
area, its says ERROR and when I click the change button I
receive the following error:
The transfer of the operation master role cannot be
performed because:
The requested FSMO operation failed. The current FSMO
holder could not be contacted.
Of course the former PDC (RID master) is dead and cannot
be repaired to its former state.
How can I resolve this problem?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
D Whicher

 

[Richard McCall [MSFT]]

The GUI only works if the previous FSMO holder is available. Use the
following article to seize the role and the clean up the dead server
255504 Using Ntdsutil.exe to Seize or Transfer FSMO Roles to a Domain
Controller
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=255504

216498 HOW TO: Remove Data in Active Directory After an Unsuccessful Domain
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=216498