Can't access Active Directory!

[Gumster]

Hi!
Have a problem with a win2k server that is Domain Controller w. SP3 running Microsoft Exchange 2000. I had a small crash so I had to run the repair tool from the win2k cd. It seemed to work and the system booted but now I can't access the AD. Error message: "Naming information cannot be located because: No authority could be contacted for authentication. Contact youre system administrator to verify that your domain is properly configured and currently online". When I try and connect to the domain I get the "No authority could be contacted for authentication" error message again.
Seems like all my security settings are gone or messed up because when I go into the registry I can't access the security on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
I tried booting in the directory restore mode but I can't logon to the server with any account in that state?

Any help is welcome, as it is now the server boots up but the webserver and mailserver isn't accessible.

 

[ashpp]

Restore your system state from a recent backup in Directory Restore mode.

Ash.

 

[Gumster]

Well the problem is I can't logon when I boot in Directory Restore mode
My admin logon/pass doesn't work. Very strange.

 

[ashpp]

Sorry Gumster missed that part on your original post. Active directory is active so you should be using the Directory Services restore password you used when you did a DCPROMO. Also its worth trying a blank password.

Ash.

 

[Gumster]

np m8
Tried blank pass already, didn't work. Was there a special pass I used as the Directory Service restore password? Did the dcpromo a while back :/

 

[ashpp]

>Was there a special pass I used as the Directory Service >restore password

Yup you would of set a password when you used DCPROMO. Without it your rather shafted Might be worth DCPROMOing back to standalone server and then repromoting - I'm not sure of the effect on Exchange thou

I take this is the only server in the domain?

Ash.

 

[Gumster]

Hmm well I tried with all the passes I could think of and none worked.Seems like all the user account settings are unaccessible, I can't access the mapped drives from client computers either.
What would happen if I reinstall exchange over the old installation ? Would that set the correct user rights for Exchange and maybe I could at least backup my mail accounts?
Yes, unfortunately it's the only server in the domain so I can't repopulate the AD from another server
Not a big problem for me to do a reinstallation but I have to be sure that all the settings (mail, webserver etc) can be restored from a backup even though the AD from that backup would be malfunctioning.
Any ideas on how I should proceed?

Thanks for you're help so far, appreciate it.