FIX: A dialog box appears and unattended removal fails when you try to use the Active Directory Installation Wizard command line tool together with the /forceremoval switch in Windows Server 2003 (903654)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP1, when used with:
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
    • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario. You try to force an unattended removal of Active Directory by running the Active Directory Installation Wizard (Dcpromo.exe) command line tool together with the /forceremoval switch on a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1)-based domain controller. An augmentation of the /forceremoval switch determines that the domain controller from which you are removing Active Directory holds a critical role.

In this scenario, a dialog box appears to ask the user to confirm the removal of Active Directory. Therefore, the unattended removal fails.

Note Examples of critical roles include operations master, global catalog, and Domain Name System (DNS).

RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

You must have Windows Server 2003 SP1 installed to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement

You must restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.
Windows Server 2003, x86-based versions
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Dcpromo.exe5.2.3790.2493672,25622-Jul-200501:10x86
Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Dcpromo.exe5.2.3790.24931,513,98422-Jul-200500:07x64
Windows Server 2003, Itanium-based versions
File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatform
Dcpromo.exe5.2.3790.24931,919,48822-Jul-200500:07IA-64

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, remove critical roles from the domain controller before you remove Active Directory from the domain controller.

STATUS

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

MORE INFORMATION

This hotfix provides support for an additional option in the unattended answer file that bypasses the following prompts for critical roles.
DemoteFSMO=yes
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates


Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/29/2006
Keywords:kbBug kbfix kbQFE kbhotfixserver kbpubtypekc KB903654 kbAudITPRO