Removing FSMO Roles

[Guest]

I have taken over a customer that has 3 Servers. 2 Domain Controllers and 1
Member Server. All machines are running Windows 2000 Server OS. I recently
checked the FSMO Roles using ntdsutil and I found that 4 of 5 roles are on
the Primary Domain Controller that still exists. However, the remaining role
is listed on a server that no longer exists. Someone did not properly demote
the server before taking it offline, and the server in question is now gone.

I have read several articles on how to manually remove a server that would
not demote properly, but I haven't seen anything on removing a server that no
longer exists(i.e. I cannot attach to it to make any changes). I tried using
ntdsutil to seize the role, but it I receive an error since the process
cannot connect to the server.

How to I transfer this remaining role to my Primary Domain Controller when
the old server no longer physically exists?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Kbird

 

[Michael D. Ober]

Use ntdsutil to "seize" the remaining role.

Mike Ober.

 

[Jorge_de_Almeida_Pinto]

I have taken over a customer that has 3 Servers. 2 Domain
Controllers and 1
Member Server. All machines are running Windows 2000 Server
OS. I recently
checked the FSMO Roles using ntdsutil and I found that 4 of 5
roles are on
the Primary Domain Controller that still exists. However, the
remaining role
is listed on a server that no longer exists. Someone did not
properly demote
the server before taking it offline, and the server in
question is now gone.

I have read several articles on how to manually remove a
server that would
not demote properly, but I haven't seen anything on removing a
server that no
longer exists(i.e. I cannot attach to it to make any changes).
I tried using
ntdsutil to seize the role, but it I receive an error since
the process
cannot connect to the server.

How to I transfer this remaining role to my Primary Domain
Controller when
the old server no longer physically exists?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Kbird

Cleanup the metadata of the DC that is gone:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=216498
http://www.petri.co.il/fix_unsuccessful_demotion.htm
http://www.petri.co.il/delete_failed_dcs_from_ad.htm

seize the FSMO role to an existing DC:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/255504
http://www.petri.co.il/seizing_fsmo_roles.htm
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;255690
http://www.petri.co.il/transferring_fsmo_roles.htm

good luck