How to manually remove the Cluster service (257928)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
This article was previously published under Q257928
Warning Do not try these steps on a Windows Server 2003 Cluster Server. These steps will cause the inability to rejoin, or create, a new cluster.

Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to remove the Cluster service manually. Note that this procedure is to be used only for the products that are listed at the beginning of this article. Do not use this procedure to remove the Cluster service manually in a different version of Windows.

You may have to manually remove the Cluster service if it is not properly functioning and you have to reinstall it. Attempt this removal process only if the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel does not function. For Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0, before you attempt to manually remove the Cluster service, refer to the "Setup-uninstall" section of the Mscs folder on CD-ROM2. You may be able to remove the Cluster service if you run the program from this section.

Caution Severe problems with your computer may result from following the instructions in this article. The program may not function properly after you remove the cluster software. You must determine the potential impact on programs before you follow the procedures in this article. If you remove the last node of a cluster, the entire cluster is removed; you must reinstall the cluster to form the first node.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
To manually remove the Cluster service:
  1. Log on to the local node with administrative rights.
  2. Stop the Cluster service; click Control Panel Services, and then click Stop on the Cluster service.
  3. Run Regedt32, and then locate the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services

  4. Click Clusnet, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
  5. Click Clussvc, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
  6. Click Clusdisk, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
  7. Locate the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\Root

  8. Click Legacy_Clusdisk, click Security, and then click Permissions.
  9. Click the Everyone Group, click Full-Control, and then click OK.
  10. Under Windows 2000, click to clear the Allow inheritable permissions from parent check box, and then click Copy when prompted.
  11. Click Legacy_Clusdisk, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
  12. Click Legacy_Clusnet, and then click Permissions on the Security menu.
  13. Click the Everyone Group, click Full-Control, and then click OK.
  14. Under Windows 2000, click to clear the Allow inheritable permissions from parent check box, and then click Copy when prompted.
  15. Click Legacy_Clusnet, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
  16. Click Legacy_Clussvc, and then click Permissions on the Security menu.
  17. Click the Everyone Group, click Full-Control, and then click OK.
  18. Under Windows 2000, click to clear the Allow inheritable permissions from parent check box, and then click Copy when prompted.
  19. Click Legacy_Clussvc, and then click Delete on the Edit menu.
  20. If you observe a key named Cluster under HKEY LOCAL MACHINE, click Cluster, and then click Unload Hive on the Registry menu.
  21. Click Yes to confirm.
  22. Quit Regedt32.
  23. In My Computer, locate the Windir folder (typically C:\Winnt), and then rename the folder labeled Cluster to Cluster.old.
  24. Locate the Windir\System32\Drivers folder, and then rename the Clusdisk.sys file to Clusdisk.old and the Clusnet.sys file to Clusnet.old.
    NOTE: Under My Computer, you may need to enable Show All Files and Show Operating System Files.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/5/2006
Keywords:kbhowto KB257928
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