How do I remove a nonexistent domain from Active Directory?

A. Windows 2000 tracks each domain in the metadata. If you remove all the domain controllers (DCs) for a domain and you don’t select This is the last domain controller in the domain, when you run DCPROMO to demote the DC to a normal server, DCPROMO won’t clean up the domain information, and the server’s domain information will remain.

You can use the utility NTDSUTIL to remove a domain from the metadata. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

D:>ntdsutil
ntdsutil: metadata cleanup
metadata cleanup: connections

Connect to a server or domain (e.g., the parent domain) that recognizes the domain you want to delete. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

server connections: connect to server titanic
Binding to titanic ...
Connected to titanic using credentials of locally logged on user
server connections: quit
metadata cleanup: select operation target

Next, select the domain you want to delete. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

select operation target: list domains
Found 3 domain(s)
0 - DC=savilltech,DC=com
1 - DC=dev,DC=savilltech,DC=com
2 - DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com
select operation target: select domain 2
Site - CN=London,CN=Sites,CN=Configuration,DC=savilltech,DC=com
Domain - DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com
No current server
No current Naming Context
select operation target: quit
metadata cleanup: remove selected domain

In the confirmation dialog box, which the Screen shows, click Yes.

Click here to view image

Close the utility. (In the following code, enter the commands in bold.)

"DC=deleteme,DC=savilltech,DC=com" removed from server "titanic"
metadata cleanup: quit
ntdsutil: quit
Disconnecting from titanic ...