Microsoft KB Archive/274424

= You Cannot Use ADSI Edit or Ldp.exe to Remove a Domain =

PSS ID Number: 274424

Article Last Modified on 8/4/2003

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The information in this article 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 Q274424



SUMMARY
If you manually remove a Windows 2000 domain from a forest, and you do not first demote each domain controller in the domain, you may have to use the Ldp.exe utility or the ADSI Edit Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in to manually remove the domain from the Configuration container in the Active Directory directory service. However, when you try to do so, you may receive an error message.

If you use ADSI Edit, you receive the following error message:

A referral was returned from the server

If you use the Ldp.exe utility, you receive the following error message:

Error 10: Referral deleted zero entries



CAUSE
This issue may occur if the domain controller in the deleted domain retains the schema master or the domain naming master Flexible Single Master Operation (FSMO) role.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this issue, follow these steps:  On the domain controller that you want to delete, click Start, and then click Run. In the Open box, type cmd, and then click OK. At the command prompt, type Dcdiag /test:KnowsOfRoleHolders /v, and then press ENTER. Examine the list of Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) roles. Seize any FSMO roles that are still held by the domain controller for the deleted domain.

For additional information about FSMO roles and seizing FSMO roles with the Ntdsutil.exe utility, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

255504 Using Ntdsutil.exe to Seize or Transfer FSMO Roles to a Domain Controller

 To verify the FSMO role holders in the forest, type Dcdiag /test:KnowsOfRoleHolders /v at the command prompt, and then press ENTER. Use ADSI Edit or Ldp.exe to remove the deleted domain from Active Directory.</li></ol>

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