Is there a way to uninstall NDS for NT when the Domain object no longer exists in NDS?

Articles and Tips: qna

01 Nov 1998

Dear Ab-end: Is there a way to uninstall NDS for NT when the Domain object no longer exists in NDS? I had a server where Directory Services was removed completely. While I can get into the NT/NDS4NT box, the Domain Wizard won't let me uninstall NDS4NT.

—Dismayed in Daytona Beach

Dear Dismayed: When the Domain object has been deleted from NDS, there are only two options to restore the system without reinstalling the NT server.

Option 1:If there is a recent backup of Directory Services (created when you run DSRepair) that contains the Domain object, that can be used to get the Domain object back into the tree. Of course, any changes made to the domain between the time Directory Services was last backed up and the time the Domain object was deleted will be lost.

Option 2:This procedure is to be used only if the Domain object has been deleted from the NDS tree. When this happens, the users cannot login and the product cannot be reinstalled or uninstalled.

Rename SAMSRV.DLL with a different extension.
Rename MSSAMSRV.DLL to SAMSRV.DLL.
Change to the SYSTEM32\NETWARE directory and type "del *.dll".
Reboot. You are now using the Microsoft MSSAMSRV.DLL.
Log in and run REGEDT32.
Go to HKEY_LOCAL _MACHINE\Security\.
Select "Security Permissions" from the menu.
Select "Administrators" and give admins full control
Check the "replace permission on existing subkeys" box. Click OK and then Yes.
Expand the security key. Delete both the NT Migration key and the NWSAM key.
Go back to the security key and change it back to special access (write back and read control). 12. Check the "replace permission on subkeys" box.

NDS for NT is now uninstalled. The NT domain has reverted back to the state in was in before the installation of NDS for NT. You can now reinstall NDS for NT.

* Originally published in Novell AppNotes

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