An error occurred while trying to configure this machine as a Domain Controller

If you’re faced with this issue, you can try either of our recommended solutions below to resolve the issue. Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved concerning each of the listed solutions.

1] Restart Server computer

The quickest resolution to this An error occurred while trying to configure this machine as a Domain Controller issue is, to perform a full restart of the server machine just like client machines. Once the server completes boot, you can try the DC promotion. If the error persists, then you can try the next solution.

2] Delete the failed server machine account

Do the following:

Launch Active Directory Users and Computers (dsa.msc) snap-in.Click Computers from the left pane.In the right pane, right-click the failed server you joined as a member server, and select Delete from the context menu. This should converge AD replication.Next, run sysdm.cpl command on the server that failed to promote as Domain Controller, and remove it from the domain forcibly.Next, remove the AD DS role.Reboot server and install AD DS server role back.

Now, you can retry to promote the machine as Domain Controller using the promotion credentials in domain\user format this time. Additional notes The table below (sourced from Microsoft) shows all the built-in logs (enabled and configured for maximum verbosity by default) which are the most important instrument for troubleshooting issues with domain controller promotion and demotion. Read next: Windows Server stuck at Applying Computer Settings screen. – Event viewer\Windows logs\System – Event viewer\Windows logs\Application – Event viewer\Applications and services logs\Directory Service – Event viewer\Applications and services logs\File Replication Service – Event viewer\Applications and services logs\DFS Replication – %systemroot%\debug\adprep\dspecup.log – %systemroot%\debug\adprep\ldif.log* – %systemroot%\winsxs\poqexec.log – %systemroot%\winsxs\pending.xml

Dcdiag.exeRepadmin.exeAutoRuns.exeTask ManagerMSInfo32.exeNetwork Monitor 3.4 (or any third-party network capture and analysis tool)

Hope you find this post helpful!