How to Recover a Deleted Domain Controller Computer Account

ID: Q248132

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server

SUMMARY

This article describes how to recover a domain controller computer account that has been inadvertently deleted.


MORE INFORMATION

Because the Active Directory Installation Wizard requires a working connection to another domain controller in the domain, you cannot use the Active Directory Installation Wizard to demote and then promote the orphaned domain controller.

To recover an orphaned domain controller computer account, use the appropriate method:

Method 1

  1. Run Windows 2000 Setup on the orphaned domain controller to re-install the operating system.


  2. Configure the computer as a domain controller.


Method 2

NOTE: The following steps must be performed on the orphaned domain controller and any other domain controllers in the domain.
  1. Restart the domain controller.


  2. When the Windows 2000 Startup menu is displayed, select Directory Services Restore Mode, and then press ENTER.


  3. At a command prompt, type ntdsutil, and then press ENTER.


  4. Type authoritative restore, and then press ENTER.


  5. Type restore subtree "cn=domain controller,ou=Domain Controllers,dc=domain name,dc=xxx", and then press ENTER, where domain controller is the computer name of the domain controller, domain name is the domain name the domain controller resides in, and xxx is the top level domain name of the domain controller, such as com, org, or net.


  6. Type quit, press ENTER, type quit, and then press ENTER.


  7. Type exit, and then press ENTER.


  8. Restart the domain controller.


For additional information about orphaned domain controllers, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q230306 How to Remove Orphaned Domains from Active Directory
For additional information about demoting and promoting domain controllers, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q238369 Promoting and Demoting Domain Controller to Member Server
For additional information about performing an authoritative restore, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q241594 How to Perform an Authoritative Restore to a Domain Controller

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbnetwork kbtool
Version : WINDOWS:2000
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: January 14, 2000
© 2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.