Question : Primary Domain Controller Crashed - Reloaded & Ready To Rejoin Domain - Need Some Help!

Hello,

I have 5 windows server 2003 domain controllers.  The PDC crashed hard.  I have replaced the hard drive and reloaded it and am now ready to rejoin the domain.  I did not promote any BDC to PDC, made no changes in Master Operations.  All domain settings are as they were when the PDC crashed.

Ran DCPROMO, but it will not allow the server to join the domain.   Gets this error:

The attempt to join this computer to the failed.
The specified user already exists

If this was a BDC, I would just go up and delete the domain controller and re-run DCPROMO.  Done that before with no problems.  However, since this is a PDC, I am a little hesitant just to delete the domain controller.

I do not want to mess anything up.  What is the best (safest) procedure to rejoin this reloaded server back to the domain as the primary domain controller.

Please advise.  Need answer quickly.  Thanks.

Answer : Primary Domain Controller Crashed - Reloaded & Ready To Rejoin Domain - Need Some Help!

The best and safest way is to restore it from backup.
If this isn't possible, you'll have to clean out your AD first.
Seize the FSMO roles the old machine held; the first article is just to find the role holders, you will not be able to seize an FSMO role with it.

How to view and transfer FSMO roles in Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324801

Using Ntdsutil.exe to transfer or seize FSMO roles to a domain controller
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=255504

Then clean out your AD:
How to remove data in Active Directory after an unsuccessful domain controller demotion
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=216498

Then make sure you have a global catalog available; if not, promote a DC:
How to promote a domain controller to a global catalog server
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=296882

Then join your new DC to the domain and continue as usual.