Topic Last Modified: 2011-04-06

When you remove a computer from a Microsoft Lync Server 2010 deployment, you also need to remove it from Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in preparation for the computer’s new server role or decommissioning. When you remove the computer from Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS), the computer object is deleted and any references associated with that computer object. As a result, the Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) computer object global deactivation in Lync Server 2010 and the local deactivation are complete. Do not remove a computer from Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) until you have removed it by using the procedures in the role-specific section within Uninstalling Lync Server 2010 and Removing Server Roles.

To remove a computer from Active Directory

  1. Log on to the local computer as a member of the Administrators group or Domain Admins group.

  2. Click Start, right-click Computer, click Properties.

  3. In the System window under Computer name, domain, and workgroup settings, click Change Settings.

  4. In System Properties, click Change.

  5. In Member of, select Workgroup, Type the name of a workgroup for the computer to be associated with, and then click OK.

    Note:
    Typically, the workgroup name is not important. By giving it a workgroup label, you can remove the computer from the domain. However, avoid workgroup names that are the same as any of the short names (that is, NetBIOS legacy names) of your Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) because these could collide with the legacy compatible name of your domain and cause naming problems that are often difficult to troubleshoot.
  6. When prompted, restart the computer to complete the changes.