Active Directory Cookbook

4.20. Deleting an Object

Problem

You want to delete an object.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

1. Open ADSI Edit.

2. If an entry for the naming context you want to browse is not already displayed, do the following:

   1. Right-click on ADSI Edit in the right pane and click Connect to . . .

   2. Fill in the information for the naming context, container, or OU that contains the object you want to delete. Click on the Advanced button if you need to enter alternate credentials.

3. In the left pane, browse to the object you want to delete.

4. Right-click on the object and select Delete.

5. Click Yes to confirm.

Using a command-line interface

> dsrm "<ObjectDN>"

Using VBScript

strObjectDN = "<ObjectDN>"
set objUser = GetObject("LDAP://" & strObjectDN)
objUser.DeleteObject(0)

Discussion

This recipe covers deleting individual objects. If you want to delete a container or OU and all the objects in it, take a look at Recipe 4.21.

Using a graphical user interface

If the parent container of the object you want to delete has a lot of objects in it, you may want to add a new connection entry for the DN of the object you want to delete. This may save you time searching through the list of objects in the container and could help avoid accidental deletions. You can do this by right-clicking ADSI Edit and selecting Connect to. Under Connection Point, select Distinguished Name and enter the DN of the object you want to delete.

Using a command-line interface

The dsrm utility can be used to delete any type of object (no limitations based ...