Error Deleting a Domain Controller Account in Active Directory Users and Computers

ID: Q247393

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

SYMPTOMS

When an administrator uses Active Directory Users and Computers Management Console to remove a computer object, the administrator may receive the following error message:

The object YOURCOMPUTER (or some of the objects it contains) cannot be deleted because Critical Directory Service System objects cannot be deleted during tree delete operations. The tree delete may have been partially performed.

Microsoft recommends that you remove a Windows 2000 Domain Controller from a domain by using the DCPromo.exe tool to demote it. An administrator might need to remove an account for a Domain Controller that is no longer present.

CAUSE

This error message can occur if the connection objects for the server are still present for the domain controller.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, delete the Domain Controller's server object from Active Directory Sites and Services Management Console. This also deletes any connection objects. For additional information about deleting a server object, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q216364 Domain Controller Server Object Not Removed After Demotion

If you continue to experience this issue, you need to remove the connection object for the Domain Controller by using NTDSUTIL. For additional information about using NTDSUTIL to remove the connection object, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q216498 Removing Active Directory Data After an Unsuccessful Demotion

After you remove the Server object and any connection objects, you can delete the computer object in Active Directory Users and Computers.

Additional query words: reset rebuild DC

Keywords : kberrmsg kbnetwork
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb