1. Open Command Prompt.
   
2. Type:
   ntdsutil
   
3. At the ntdsutil command, type:
   metadata cleanup
   
4. Perform metadata cleanup as follows:
   
   • If you are performing metadata cleanup by using the version of Ntdsutil.exe that is included with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1), at the metadata cleanup command, type:
     remove selected serverServerName
     Or
     remove selected serverServerName1on ServerName2
     

      

     Value	Description
     ServerName, ServerName1	The distinguished name of the domain controller whose metadata you want to remove, in the form cn=ServerName,cn=Servers,cn=SiteName, cn=Sites,cn=Configuration,dc=ForestRootDomain.
     ServerName2	The DNS name of the domain controller to which you want to connect and from which you want to remove server metadata.

   • If you are performing metadata cleanup by using the version of Ntdsutil.exe that is included with Windows Server 2003 with no service pack, perform metadata cleanup as follows:
     
   1. At the metadata cleanup command, type:
      connection
      
   2. At the server connections command, type:
      connect to server Server
      
   3. At the connection command, type:
      quit
      
   4. At the metadata cleanup command, type:
      select operation target
      
   5. At the select operation target command, type:
      list sites
      
   6. A numbered list of sites will be displayed, type:
      select site SiteNumber
      
   7. At the select operation target command, type:
      list domains in site
      
   8. A numbered list of domains in the selected site will be displayed, type:
      select domain DomainNumber
      
   9. At the select operation target command, type:
      list servers in site
      
   10. A numbered list of servers in a domain and site will be displayed, type:
       select server ServerNumber
       
   11. At the select operation target command, type:
       quit
       
   12. At the metadata cleanup command, type:
       remove selected server
       

        

       Value	Description
       Server	The DNS name of a domain controller that you want to connect to.
       SiteNumber	The number associated to the site of the server that you want to clean up, which displays in the list.
       DomainNumber	The number associated to the domain of the server that you want to clean up, which displays in the list.
       ServerNumber	The number associated to the server that you want to clean up, which displays in the list.

Notes

• To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Domain Admins group (in the domain of the selected domain controller) or the Enterprise Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
  
• To open a command prompt, click Start, point to All programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command prompt.
  
• You can use this procedure to delete from the directory the metadata of a domain controller that could not be cleanly decommissioned.
  
• Do not delete the metadata of existing domain controllers.
  
• To clean up metadata if you are using the version of Ntdsutil.exe that is included with Windows Server 2003 with no service pack installed, you must first select the operation target. When selecting the operation target for a server to clean up, you must first select the site, and then the domain, of that server.
  

• Your server might function differently based on the version and edition of the operating system that is installed, your account permissions, and your menu settings. For more information, see Viewing Help on the Web.
  

Concepts