How to demote the Domain Controller

Following shows the procedures how to demote the Domain Controller.

Demoting a domain controller removes Active Directory and switches to using a local User
Accounts System.

Important consideration before demoting a Domain Controller

1. Account used to demote the server should have enterprise administrator permission

2. If this domain controller is a global catalog, ensure that another global catalog is available
to users before demoting it

3. Make sure this is the last Domain Controller for the Domain. If you choose this option it
will delete the Domain Controller from the forest level

Step by Step Procedure to Demote a Domain Controller

1. On a domain controller, click Start, and then click Run.

1. In Open, type dcpromo to open the Active Directory Installation Wizard, and then click
Next.

2. On the warning page, read the message and click OK

3. On the Remove Active Directory page, click Next, and then continue to follow the
wizard.

4. Do not select This server is the last Domain Controller in the Domain. If you select this
option Domain will be deleted from the forest

5. On the Application Directory partition page, click NEXT

6. on the Confirm Deletion window, choose the option to delete all application directory
partitions

7. Enter a Administrator password to login to the system after the domain controller
Demoted.
8. On the summary review the things and click Next

9. Below window show the demotion page of the Domain Controller

10. On the Completion page click finish

Post Installation Tasks

1. Restart the PC

2. Login with the administrator password that you have entered while demoting the DC

3. Run the ADSI utility to check for Domain Name

How to install Windows Server 2008

Prerequisites to check before installing Windows Server 2008

Installation is straight forward

1. Processor – 1 GHz for X86 and 1.4 GHZ for X64 –> Minimum
2. Processor – 2 GHz for X86 and X64 –> recommended
3. RAM – 512 MB – min and 2 GHz recommended
4. Disk Space – 10 GB minimum and 40 GB recommended
After login to the system, You will be greeted by an assistant for the initial server
configuration, and after performing some initial configuration tasks, you will be able to start
working.