Error Message: The Wizard Cannot Gain Access to the List of Domains in the Forest (259374)
The information in this article applies to:
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
- Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
This article was previously published under Q259374 SYMPTOMS
When you attempt to use Dcpromo.exe to move a Windows 2000-based server into an existing domain, the following error message may be displayed:
Active Directory Installation Wizard
The wizard cannot gain access to the list of domains in the forest. The error is:
The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted.
CAUSE
This problem can occur if the server that is running the Domain Name System (DNS) service has not registered an "A" record for itself in DNS.
The SRV records for the domain controllers must be in the DNS database. If the "A" record for the DNS server is missing, the process does not succeed.
RESOLUTION
You can add the "A" record to DNS by issuing the following command at the DNS server:
After verifying that an "A" record is present for the DNS server, you may receive the following error message when you attempt to continue the Dcpromo.exe process:
Active Directory Installation Wizard
The wizard cannot gain access to the list of domain in the forest. The error is:
The RPC server is unavailable.
This can also occur during Dcpromo if there is only one existing DC and it does not have file and printer sharing enabled on its network card.
To resolve this, type the following command on the server on which you are attempting to use Dcpromo.exe. This clears the DNS resolver cache on the computer running Dcpromo.exe so that it re-creates the query after the "A" record for the DNS server is registered in the DNS database:
| Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 9/22/2003 |
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| Keywords: | kbDCPromo kberrmsg kbprb KB259374 |
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