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Hello,

I opened a ticket with Microsoft because I could not do anything with certain programmes on my newly installed BDC, a clean install from a TechNet subscription. I had decided to replace two 36GB U320 with two 72GB U320; to change the JBOD on the Adaptec 3200s to RAID-5, and then do the install.

Everything seemed to work, except that I had immediately run dcpromo to make the box a BDC.

Then I installed Adaptec Storage Manager Pro, which could not find the adapter, and also, of course, the drives. I could not open any programmes from Start, Programs. I could not open any event in Event Viewer, so I could not discover what problem there was with DNS, although I knew there was one.

I eventually contacted MS, and they could not access my BDC using Easy Assist, only a black screen. Using RDP from the properly working PDC, programmes could be run and Event Viewer items opened. However, running dcpromo to remove AD meant that the computer worked correctly in all ways. When we had done that and reinstalled AD, the problems returned.

Nothing known about this: no Administrator account was usable, and of course those are needed to do administrative work.

So, I think that I shall have to promote my PDC to Windows 2008 Enterprise, run dcpromo and see what gives if I do the same to what was the BDC. Time to upgrade anyway. I must say that the Compaq ML570 run as PDC has been rock solid, but the Microsoft Techies in Delhi tell me that W2008 is better and I should go that route. Would take me at least a day's work, but we'll see, when I can raise the courage to start on it.

When the computer is not a DC I can install programmes successfully: eg., the Storage Manager Pro software now sees the Adaptec controller and its associated drives. And, I can open programmes from the Start button.

But, to have a problem that is seemingly unknown of is a cachet, what?

I do expect that one of you will tell me that it's happened to you!! Regards, Paul

This sounds like a very odd issue.  To confirm, the system becomes unuseable after adding this adaptec program?

 Why do you need it?  Also, can you take a system state backup of the DC or a snapshot of the entire system so you have something to restore before installing the app?

Hello,
I am somewhat remiss in answering. There was no immediate reply once the original post had been written.

What transpired is this: there is an Adaptec RAID card installed, thus the Adaptec Storage Manager. The drives were all overhauled using SpinRite. 

The OS was freshly downloaded using my TechNet Subscription. The OS was installed on the refurbished drives. It is now working as a DNS server backup on the network. And as a data repository as an xcopy destination.

Thanks for your interest, but it is an old machine, now remaining reliable, and I will keep it and eventuallly make it a Linux box. That when I have obtained X64 capable servers, having the drives in SAS fashion.

I know this is an old article, but this problem is a wonderful conversation piece. 

Brad, this sounds like a DNS issue. When a machine is not a Domain Controller, local user accounts are local to the computer. On Domain Controllers, all local user accounts are actually domain local accounts. If there is problems contacting a DNS server then logging in could be problematic (there is problems with this logic though, a DNS must be contacted during DC promo.)