Ghost Domain Controller in AD

[Eversurf]

I have a Domain Controller in my Active Directory that doesn't exist. If I look in the Domain Controller container it shows up in there. Obviously it hasn't been remove properly (I don't know the reason) I need to remove it because I believe it is causing errors in my event log.

Has anyone ever done this or can someome point me to some documentation.

Thank you

[Eversurf]

I just checked with NTDSutil and the server is not listed in my site but it shows up in the Domain Controller OU....

Scratching my head

[Draaku]

2 second google search...this should do it for you. I've done this once a looong time ago.

Windows 2000 tracks each domain controller (DC) in the metadata. If you remove a DC (e.g., through reinstallation or hardware removal) and you don?t run DCPROMO to clean up the DC?s metadata, connection objects will remain.

You can use the utility NTDSUTIL to remove a server from the metadata. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

D:\>ntdsutil

ntdsutil: metadata cleanup

metadata cleanup: select operation target

Next, you must connect to a server. In my example, I select a domain to accomplish this task. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

select operation target: connections

server connections: connect to domain savilltech.com

Binding to \\TITANIC.savilltech.com ...

Connected to \\TITANIC.savilltech.com using credentials of locally logged on user

server connections: quit

Next, you must select a site, a server (i.e., the server you want to delete), and the domain the server is in. The order isn?t important. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

select operation target: list sites

Found 2 site(s)

0 - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

1 - CN=Kent,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

select operation target: select site 0

Site - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

No current domain

No current server

No current Naming Context

select operation target: list servers in site

Found 4 server(s)

0 - CN=TITANIC,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

1 - CN=TITUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

2 - CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

3 - CN=TRINITY,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

select operation target: select server 2

Site - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

No current domain

Server - CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

DSA object - CN=NTDS Settings,CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

DNS host name - MORPHEUS.deleteme.savilltech.com

Computer object - CN=MORPHEUS,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com

No current Naming Context

select operation target: list domains

Found 3 domain(s)

0 - DC=savilltech,DC=com

1 - DC=dev,DC=savilltech,DC=com

2 - DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com

select operation target: select domain 0

Site - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

Domain - DC=savilltech,DC=com

Server - CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

DSA object - CN=NTDS Settings,CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

DNS host name - MORPHEUS.deleteme.savilltech.com

Computer object - CN=MORPHEUS,OU=Domain Controllers,DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com

No current Naming Context

select operation target: quit

Next, remove the server you selected. (In the following code, enter the command in bold.)

metadata cleanup: remove selected server

In the confirmation dialog box, which the Screen shows, click Yes.

Close the utility. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

"CN=MORPHEUS,CN=Servers,CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com

" removed from server "\\TITANIC.savilltech.com"

metadata cleanup: quit

ntdsutil: quit

Disconnecting from \\TITANIC.savilltech.com ...

Finally, you need to delete the server from the Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Active Directory Sites and Servers snap-in. Select Programs, Administrative Tools, Active Directory Sites and Services from the Start menu. Expand the Sites branch, select the site, expand the Services container, right-click the server, and select Delete. Click Yes in the confirmation dialog box. I have been informed of a possible problem with this is SP2 is installed in which case perform on a box without SP2 installed.

[Eversurf]

Yeah I have done that and the server didn't show up in the metadata thingy. So i guess it's been remove from it. It still showing up in the Domain Controller OU.

I will check in my site replication to see if it's in there.

thank you

[Eversurf]

nope not in the Site Snap in either. Just in the Domain Controller OU

Can I safely remove it?

BTW I have a good backup of my AD

[Eversurf]

Alright I have deleted it and it was pretty cool because it asked me the reason why I wanted to delete that object. I choose because the DC wasn't online anymore and could not be remove using dcpromo. Time will tell if the error problems have been resolved

Thank for the help and have fun !!!

[Draaku]

you're welcome, hope things work out.

[eversurfagain]

Anyway we can get the procedure that was in this thread back?

Edit: Also anyway I can reset my previous pwd on my account? I can't remember my email.