Microsoft KB Archive/248132

= How To Recover a Deleted Domain Controller Computer Account in Windows 2000 =

Article ID: 248132

Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006

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APPLIES TO


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

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This article was previously published under Q248132



IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY
 * Method 1
 * Method 2

REFERENCES



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

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:

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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.

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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) Restore the System State from a backup set that was created prior to the computer account deletion.
 * 4) At a command prompt, type ntdsutil, and then press ENTER.
 * 5) Type authoritative restore, and then press ENTER.
 * 6) Type restore subtree "cn= ,ou=Domain Controllers,dc= ,dc= ", and then press ENTER, where   is the computer name of the domain controller,   is the domain name the domain controller resides in, and   is the top level domain name of the domain controller, such as com, org, or net.
 * 7) Type quit, press ENTER, type quit , and then press ENTER.
 * 8) Type exit, and then press ENTER.
 * 9) Restart the domain controller.

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