Cannot Delete Domain Controller - Access is Denied

Description:

You are using Domain Admins account and wanted to delete a "stale" Domain Controller (DC) from Active Directory Users and Computers console. However you got an access denied error.

Resolution:

Most probably there's a protection against accidental deletion of DC.

• Go to Active Directory Sites and Services
• Expand the Sites folder > expand the site name where the DC you want to delete is > expand the Servers folder > expand the DC you want to delete
• Right click on NTDS Settings
• Click on the Object tab
• Uncheck the “Protect object from accidental deletion” checkbox.
• Click OK.

Now you should be able to delete the Domain Controller from Active Directory Users and Computers console.