DC demotion in mixed mode

[davech]

My customer has 2 Windows 2000 servers as domain
controllers and 1 Windows 2003 domain controller in their
domain across their WAN subnet. Active directory is in
use. (running in mixed-mode)

For some reason they promoted an NT 4.0 Server running
Exchange 5.5 to be a primary domain controller...This is
causing some issues like the computer browse service
slowing way down and not longer allow inter-site
browsing...

Anyway to demote the NT 4.0 Exchange 5.5 server...The
dcpromo won't work...

Thanks for any advice.

 

[Joe Richards [MVP]]

This shouldn't be possible...

Assuming it is, the ONLY thing I can think of would be to do a FSMO move back to the W2K3 DC or whatever DC you really
want to be your PDC for the domain.

If you are asking how to make the NT4 box not a domain controller any more, you get to do it by restaging the machine -
I.E. Format and reload.

 

[Paul McGuire]

Sounds like to me you either need to seize the PDC role to the 2003 DC and
reinstall the NT4 DC. Or you would have to start over Demote the 2000 and
2003 DC with the dcpromo /forceremove and Upgrade your NT4 PDC to Windows
2000 and then promote the other servers back to the domain. This is just a
thought. I don't know you exact situation. Please see what the others in
the Newsgroup have to say before you try my ideas.

 

[Michael Davis \(Comcast.Net\)]

hmmm,

You seized the PDC role from the PDC emulator?

I didnt know you could do that but since your in mixed mode, run NT 4.0
server manager and see if you can promote the AD PDC Emulator back to PDC.

Sorry if it doesnt work

MikeD