Can't connect to Active Directory after installing Exchange

[Cisco79]

HI all,

I had a win2000 server (domain controller) with active directory for domain (xxx.com) .It was having Exchange server too. I wanted to change the domain name cuz our company have reserved a new domain name. so i uninstalled the active directory from (dcpromo.exe) command. then i installed the active directory with the new domain name.
when i tried to uninstall the old exchange server new and install a new one to connect to the new active directory domain it doesn't accept uniinstall.
moreover i tried to have an additional domain controller on another new PC ,then i installed Exchange 2000 server on it , after it finshed installation it gives a message(There is no Microsoft Organization in that domain) and it failed to conect to the active directory.
so what the solution now???
should i remove the active directory again? i guess i will still have the problem since i can't remove the exchange server now.
or shall i format the server and reinstall everything again??
I hope someone will give me the easiest solution
Thank you

 

[nhidalgo]

did you run domain prep and forest prep again since you created a new domain/forest?

Nick

 

[Cisco79]

No I didn't !!!!
where to do that from???
i just installed the new domain as an only domain controller in my organization.!!

 

[nhidalgo]

When your first install exchange, domain prep and forest prep are automatically run. run the exchange setup with the domain prep switch. ie.

d:\setup.exe /forestprep
d:\setup.exe /domainprep

Nick

 

[Cisco79]

Dear Mr. Nick,
I have tried that but it also fails !!!!
it gives the following msg after i try (setup.exe /forestprep or /domainprep)

(( The component " Microsoft Exchange forest preparation" cant be assigned the action "forest prep" because:
- Setup is unable to access the win2000 active directory
- Failed to contact the schema master server for the active directory forest. ))

I am not even able to remove exchange server from anywhere like (add/remove program)
!!!!!!

what do u think the problem is?
anyone can help?

many thanks

 

[nhidalgo]

if your Org and email system isn't to big, i would consider starting completely fresh. Dcpromo the server to demote it.
Format the server, reinstalled 2k, Dcpromo and created a new active directory forest and domain. Install exchange.

Nick

 

[Cisco79]

mmmmmm

ok Thank you Nick for ur help
i just tried to avoid formatting the server again because of the database backup and restore

many thanks

 

[Shenanigins]

Cisco79,

To avoid formatting, We had the same problem with our company server. My IT assistant had logged on to the local domain of the machine (the computer domain. *That machine). I logged off the user and chose the company domain from the domain list. If the list doesn't appear on the logon screen, click on the options button to expand the screen to display the list of available domains. If you don't see the list at all after expanding, and only see "use dial-up", then that machine you are installing Exchange on is not registered with the Active Directory Domain.