Hey Guys,Well I knew it would happen one day and today is the day.Here's my problem..I screwed up my domain. As I was replacing a Domain Controller, at some point during the process, I completely hosed the DNS. I have tried for about 2 weeks to get it fixed but just keep getting deeper and deeper into a DNS nightmare.Here's what I have.DC - Server 2003Backup DC - Server 2003Exchange Server 2003 Standard - Server 2003 (also runnign as a DC)All replication has failed across the entire domain.I am planning (and let me know if this is stupid) to backup my exchange server andformat the entire domain (all three servers). Then redo my domain, re-add all my users to AD then reinstall Exchange 2003 on the same server it was on. Then try to "re-link" the mailboxes to the users I added back to AD.Is this possible?Should I look for a different solution?If it is possible, where do I start?PLEASE... Any help??

Hello,Yes that is possible and you just need to take the backup of you exchange database which is priv1.edb, priv1.stm, pub1.edb and pub1.stm.You need to reinstall the exchange with the same administrative group and same organization name, Once you have done the same restore the exchange database, mount it, create all the users and reconnect it.But i am not able to understand the logic behind re-installing all the DC once again. - remember that will be a nightmare, you need to create all the users, need configure their profile, need to re-add all the domain member computers again, and other devices, permission, printer sharing and other stuffs - Here is a deal, Is all the DC's in the same site and the same location? If yes, then just re-install DNS on your exchange box which is a DC, which should be AD integrated DNS and let all the DC to point to the exchange DNS and force the replication.Arun Kumar | MCSE - 2K3 + Messaging | ITIL-F V3

Yes. All the DCs are in the same location.Dc and Backup DC are currently running DNS but Exchange is not. I have tried many, many time to uninstall DNS on the Dc and Backup DC. Each time I reinstall DNS, it copies a zone (from where I have no idea) and then i get replication errors.But yes, I am going to transfer all the FSMO roles to the Exchange server, then install DNS on the Exchange box and remove the DC and Backup DC from the domain.Does that sound like it will work?

Yes, make the exchange AS a DC/GC/FSMO role holder, remove all the other DC's using dcpromo command and make the metadata clean up once you successfully demote the DC's from the organization.Clean up server metadatahttp://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc736378(WS.10).aspxArun Kumar | MCSE - 2K3 + Messaging | ITIL-F V3

Arun,I installed DNS and created a new AD Integrated Zone on my Exchange box. I then moved the GC,RID, PDC, Infrastructure and the Schema Master to the Exchange box. I then ran dcpromo on both the Dc and Backup DC.I am now off to run the ntdsutil and clean up all the metadata of the old DCs.Everything is running great.Thank You for all your help. You saved me many days and night of work and worry.

Great! Its always feel good to hear the good news.Glad to helpArun Kumar | MCSE - 2K3 + Messaging | ITIL-F V3