"Active Directory Installation Failed" Error Message When You Use Dcpromo.exe to Promote a Server (259567)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

This article was previously published under Q259567

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to use Dcpromo.exe to promote a Windows 2000 Server-based computer to a domain controller, you may receive the following error message:

Active Directory Installation Failed
The operation failed with the following error

The network location cannot be reached. For further information about network troubleshooting, see Windows Help.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if the network cable is not plugged into a hub or other network device.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, plug the network cable into a hub or other network device.

If network connectivity is not available and this is the first domain controller in a new forest, you can finish Dcpromo.exe by installing Microsoft Loopback Adapter. For additional information about how to install a loopback adapter, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

236869 How to Install Microsoft Loopback Adapter in Windows 2000

MORE INFORMATION

A network icon may appear on the taskbar with a red "X" indicating that the network cable is unplugged.

If you use the ipconfig command, the following output is generated:

Windows 2000 IP Configuration

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:
Media State..........:Cable Disconnected

Modification Type:	Major	Last Reviewed:	11/4/2003
Keywords:	kbDCPromo kberrmsg kbprb KB259567