Active Directory doesn't exist or can't be contacted

Applies to: Exchange Server 2013

Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Setup can't continue because it can't contact a valid Active Directory directory service site. Setup requires that the server you're installing Exchange on is able to locate the configuration naming context in Active Directory.

To resolve this issue, verify that the user account running Exchange Setup is an Active Directory user, and then run Setup again. If this doesn't resolve the issue, follow the guidance about using the dcdiag.exe and repadmin.exe support tools from the articles below to further diagnose the problem.

For more information about Active Directory troubleshooting and configuration for Exchange, see the following articles:

• Prepare Active Directory and domains
• Troubleshooting Active Directory Domain Services
• Configuring a Computer for Troubleshooting
• Troubleshooting Active Directory Replication Problems
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting Active Directory Replication Using Repadmin

Having problems? Ask for help in the Exchange forums. Visit the forums at Exchange Server.

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