How to Demote Windows Server 2012 PDC

Win+Q (shortcut for Search), type "Server Manager" and hit Enter

Manage (drop down menu at top-right)

Remove Roles and Features (wizard)

Expand "Active Directory Certificate Services"  section and uncheck "Certificate Authority Web Enrollment" and click Next, then Next again, then Remove button:

• in "Server Manager" click Manage (drop down menu at top-right), "Remove Roles and Features" menu selection (wizard)
• uncheck "Active Directory Certificate Services" click Next, Next again, then click the Remove button to confirm:

• Close the dialogue, and Reboot
• after reboot, Win+Q, type "Server Manager" and hit Enter
• Manage (drop down menu at top-right)
• Remove Roles and Features (wizard)
• Next, Next, uncheck "Active Directory Domain Services" and click Next, then Remove Features button
• choose "Demote this domain controller" click OK
• confirm "Force the removal of this domain controller" and click Next
• confirm "Proceed with removal" and click Next
• type admin "Password" twice, and click Next
• click "Demote"

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I have not yet tested if doing this demotion procedure breaks any basic functionality of the product, but at first blush, it appears not, as backups do appear to continue to work fine. This first test opens the door to my next recording sequel videos, hopefully showing:

• install WS2012E (Windows Server 2012 Essentials)
• remove AD Domain role and reboot
• install client connector on PCs
• determine if backup and shared folders functionality still appears to work fine

so stay tuned!

See also:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh831457.aspx

For now, enjoy this initial discovery video, which was totally unrehearsed, and done on a slow external RAID5 (not SSD), and it turned out to be rather straight-forward. That's right, no PowerShell, no registry editing, or other somewhat-hack-like steps required, just straight-forward GUI stuff.

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