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"Setup encountered an error while trying to contact the Windows Active Directory" error message when you try to install Exchange Server 2003 to an existing Windows 2000 domain

Article ID: 822452

Article Last Modified on 10/25/2007

APPLIES TO

Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 on a server that resides in an existing Microsoft Windows 2000 domain, you may receive the following error message:

Multiple Components cannot be assigned the requested action(s) because: -Setup encountered an error while trying to contact the Windows Active Directory.
The error was: -Failed to connect to the Schema Master server %servername%. Please verify that it is up, reachable, and that you have sufficient permissions to use it.
The component "Microsoft Exchange Domain Preparation" cannot be assigned the action "Install" because: -Setup encountered an error while trying to contact the Windows Active Directory.
The error was: -Failed to connect to the Schema Master server %servername%. Please verify that it is up, reachable, and that you have sufficient permissions to use it.

Even if you do not receive this error message, Setup may not show any progress during the "Updating the Active Directory Schema" portion of the installation.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Setup tries to update the Microsoft Active Directory directory services Schema Master during the installation of the first Exchange 2003 server in the organization. If there is any loss of connectivity to the Windows domain controller that holds the Schema Master Flexible Single Master Operation (FSMO) role, the Exchange 2003 installation does not continue past the point where connectivity was lost.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about Setup switches in Exchange 2003, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

822942 Considerations when you upgrade to Exchange Server 2003

For additional information about the use of the Exdeploy tool in setting up Exchange 2003 Server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

812593 Exchange Server 2003 deployment tools overview

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, verify that you have connectivity to the Schema Master FSMO server. For additional information about how to locate an FSMO role holder, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

234790 HOW TO: Find servers that hold Flexible Single Master Operations roles

After you have established connectivity to the Schema Master FSMO server, stop and then restart the Exchange 2003 installation operation. To do this, follow these steps:

Right-click the taskbar, and then click Task Manager.
Click Microsoft Exchange Installation Wizard.
Click End Task.
Quit Task Manager.
Restart the Exchange 2003 installation.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

Additional query words: XGEN

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB822452

Microsoft KB Archive/822452

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