FORCIBLY DEMOTE

[ac]

I am trying to demote a DC. however it can't find the
forest root. Can someone please tell me how I can force
AD off of this server.

thanks

 

[Herb Martin]

In later Service Packs of Win2000 (3 & 4 I think
but 4 for certain) and in Win2003 you can use the
/forcedremoval swith on DCPromo.

Recognize that you must (eventually) go clean
up the 'lost' DC in AD (and if it is the last in the
domain, clean out the 'lost' domain too.)

For cleaning out the (remaining) AD, use NTDSUtil
"metadata cleanup".

dcpromo /forcedremoval

(Pretty sure it's /forceDremoval no force.)

 

[Guest]

KB article q216498 will guide you thru the metadata cleaup process.

I would recommned that you investigate the problem further though. If this
machine is having problems it is not unlikely that others are as well.