When I attempt to use the ADSI
Edit tool to delete an object, I receive
an error message that the object
doesn't exist. Do you know what's
causing the problem?
I recently had this problem with
a Group Policy Object (GPO) that I
couldn't delete. The object showed
up in the ADSI Edit tool, but I
couldn't delete it. I received the
error message The specified directory
service attribute or value does not
exist. To resolve the problem, you need
to take ownership of the object via
the Microsoft Management Console
(MMC) Active Directory Users and
Computers snap-in. To do so, follow
these steps:
- Start the MMC Active Directory
Users and Computers snap-in (Start, Programs, Administrative
Tools, Active Directory Users and
Computers).
- Ensure that Advanced Features is selected in the View menu.
- Open ADSI Edit and navigate
to the object that's giving the error
message. Right-click the object, and
select Properties.
- Select the Security tab.
- Click Advanced.
- Select the Owner tab.
- Under Change Owner to, select
the Administrators group or select a
user (the user you are logged on as),
then click OK.
- In the Security dialog, assign
Full Control to the account you're
using.
- Click OK.
You should now be able to delete the
object in question.
—John Savill
End of Article

