Retire a Dead Windows 2003 Domain Controller

Question

I have a Windows 2003 Domain Controller that died (totally gone). We have decided not to replace it at this time (it was just a backup at a particular office).

What do I need to do to remove the domain controller from AD? It is still listed under 'Sites and Services', and elsewhere I imagine. It was also a DNS server.

Answer 1

You need NTDSUTIL.

Here you go: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/216498.

Answer 2

As Massimo indicated, you'll need to do a metadata clean-up to get the DC portion of it all out of the picture. You can also go into DNS and make the appropriate change so it's no longer listed as a Name Server (NS).