Context: practicing various options for metadata cleanup, including...
- ntdsutil, command line, step by step
- ntdsutil, command line, single command
- GUI - right-click on domain controller in domain controller OU of Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC).
OS: Windows Server 2012 (*not* R2)
Yes, I am running the commands / performing the operation on this server (domain controller). The "defunct" domain controller was a Windows 2008 R2 machine. It is offline (a virtual guest that I have simply not turned on).
+++++++++++++++++++
Seizing the FSMO roles was successful - no problem here.
The "traditional" ntdsutil - metadata cleanup option works fine. I know this because I can go into DNS, ADUC and ADSS to verify the absence of references to the defunct domain controller.
As this is (now) a single domain controller in a test environment (VMware Workstation 9.0.1) , I took a snapshot after seizing the FSMO roles and revert back to this snapshot after testing the various metadata cleanup options.
When I attempted the "GUI option" - in ADUC - as described here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc816907(v=ws.10).aspx#bkmk_graphical
The operation seems to complete successfully but...
I can no longer access either Active Directory Users and Computers or Sites and Services. I'll post some of the screenshots...
![]()
If I insist on opening ADUC, this is what I see:
![]()
*
*
I have to believe I have the proper credentials since the operation works at the ntdsutil command line.
For example, the command in the hyperlink above works just fine. It's the GUI option that.... apparently messes up something.
I'm going to try once more (after reverting to the previous snapshot) and see if I encounter the same problem.
I realize this is on a practice server (DC) in a virtual VMware Workstation environment but I obviously cannot experiment with this at work.
Can anyone reproduce this? Or think of a reason why this works with the "good ole" ntdsutil method but not with the GUI?
Please mark as helpful if you find my contribution useful or as an answer if it does answer your question. That will encourage me - and others - to take time out to help you.