Removing first AD DC

[ExAdmin]

Hello,
I've inherited an Active Directory domain (mixed mode, one
domain/tree/forest). The environment is pretty small, but it's a bit messy
and I'd like to clean it up, but I have a few questions:

The Environment:
- Site1: 3 DC's (original upgraded DC, and 2 new DCs)
- Site2: 1 DC
- All DC's are GC's
- a few 'ghost' DC's still in Site1 when seen from AD/Sites & Services.
These servers were decommissioned a long time ago.
- Exchange 2000 is in the environment.
- I've moved the FSMO's to one of the newer DC's from the original.

The questions:
1. The first DC was an upgraded NT box. Are there any 'gotchas' involved
when demoting the first server in the AD (besides the FSMO's)?
2. How do I remove the 'ghost' DC accounts from AD. When I try to delete
them from Sites & Services, it says they are container objects. If I delete
them from there, will anything break?
3. The RUS in Exchange still points to the first DC. When I try to change
it to the new one, it errors out with ID # 80004005.

Any help would be *greatly* appreciated!

Thanks,
Daniel

 

[Matjaz Ladava [MVP]]

1. Use dcpromo and demote it. This is the prefered way.
2. http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;216498
3. Rightclick RUS (both entries) and select new DC server that RUS will be
using.

--
Regards

Matjaz Ladava, MCSE (NT4 & 2000), Windows MVP
(e-mail address removed)
http://ladava.com

 

[Matjaz Ladava [MVP]]

No, first DC in w2k forest is (beside FSMO) just another DC and you can
demote it as any other DC. Just transfer FSMO roles prior to demotion.

--
Regards

Matjaz Ladava, MCSE (NT4 & 2000), Windows MVP
(e-mail address removed)
http://ladava.com