What to expect? Removing Active Directory.

[James Curran]

I have Active Directory running on my tiny network at home. I'm
considering removing it, since I'm not (I don't think) using any
feature of it (*), and Home Server doesn't get along with it. I know
the mechanics of it (running dcpromo.exe), but I'm worried about the
affect.

(*) Now the only feature that I am using that is tied to AD are domain
account. In fact, as far as I know, "Administrator" is the local
account on any of the PCs. Most of my documents and settings are
under a domain account on one machine, and I'd hate to lose access to
them (the documents I think I can deal with, but the idea of re-
installing dozens of applications just to regain registry entries
sound like a nightmare.) What happens to these domain accounts?

Also, I'm using the DNS, WINS, DHCP and Routing services. What
happens to these once AD is removed?

 

[Danny Sanders]

Before removing AD from the server, on each computer in the domain log in
and reset the local admin password to something you know, then remove them
from the domain by putting them in a workgroup.
Once removed from the domain those domain accounts will not work on the
computer. Logging on with the local admin account will allow you to access
the files in any of the existing profiles, even the domain profiles.

them (the documents I think I can deal with, but the idea of re-
installing dozens of applications just to regain registry entries
sound like a nightmare.) What happens to these domain accounts?

Moving the computer to a workgroup will not affect the software installed.
Being an administrator of the local computer will allow access to all
profiles, including the ones created when on the domain.

Also, I'm using the DNS, WINS, DHCP and Routing services. What
happens to these once AD is removed?

Nothing.

The main catch is the accounts and passwords. Once the domain is removed
domain accounts don't work. Being local admin of the server and the
workstations that *were* in the domain will allow access to everything you
had access to before removing them from the domain. Make sure you know the
admin account username and password even if you have to reset them to
something you know.

hth
DDS