Active Directory Cookbook

16.17. Restoring a Deleted Object

Tip

This recipe must be run against a Windows Server 2003 domain controller.

Problem

You want to restore an object that was previously deleted.

Solution

Using a graphical user interface

1. Open LDP.

2. From the menu, select Connection → Connect.

3. For Server, enter the name of a domain controller (or leave blank to do a serverless bind).

4. For Port, enter 389.

5. Click OK.

6. From the menu, select Connection → Bind.

7. Enter credentials of a user that can restore the deleted object (only administrators for the domain by default).

8. Click OK.

9. From the menu, select Options → Controls.

10. Select Return deleted objects from the Load Predefined selection.

11. Click OK.

12. From the menu, select Browse → Modify.

13. For Dn, enter the distinguished name of the deleted object you want to restore.

14. For Attribute, enter distinguishedName.

15. For Values, enter the original DN of the object.

16. For Operation, select Replace.

17. Click Enter.

18. For Attribute, enter isDeleted.

19. For Values, remove any text.

20. For Operation, select Delete.

21. Click Enter.

22. Add mandatory attributes as necessary:

23. For Attribute, enter <ManadatoryAttribute>.

24. For Values, enter <MandatoryAttributeValue>.

25. For Operation, select Add.

26. Check the box beside Extended.

27. Click Run.

28. The results will be displayed in the right pane.

Discussion

Windows Server 2003 supports restoring tombstone (deleted) objects, which have not expired. This is an alternative to performing an authoritative restore for an object that was accidentally deleted. The downside to this approach is that since most ...