Error message when you use the Dsdbutil.exe utility or the Ntdsutil.exe utility to perform an authoritative restore of an object in Windows Server 2003: "Invalid Key %s found in DN"

When you use the Dsdbutil.exe utility or the Ntdsutil.exe utility to perform an authoritative restore of an object in Windows Server 2003, you receive the following error message: This problem occurs when the DN of the object contains any string except for the following relative distinguished names (also known as RDNs):

• "DC" or "DomainComponent"
• "CN" or "CommonName"
• "OU" or "OrganizationalUnitName"
• "O" or "Organization"
• "STREET" or "StreetAddress"
• "L" or "LocalityName"
• "ST" or "StateOrProvinceName"
• "C" or "CountryName"

Note A DN is a sequence of relative distinguished names that are connected by commas.

For example, you have an object in an Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) database and the DN of this object contains the UID relative distinguished name. When you use the Dsdbutil.exe utility to perform an authoritative restore for this object, you receive the following error message:

This problem occurs because the Dsdbutil.exe utility and the Ntdsutil.exe utility can recognize only the following relative distinguished names:

• "DC" or "DomainComponent"
• "CN" or "CommonName"
• "OU" or "OrganizationalUnitName"
• "O" or "Organization"
• "STREET" or "StreetAddress"
• "L" or "LocalityName"
• "ST" or "StateOrProvinceName"
• "C" or "CountryName"

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 on the computer.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, x64-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x64-based versions

More information about this hotfix

This hotfix introduces additional functionality by enabling you to use the objectGUID attribute to restore objects. If you want to successfully restore objects that contain non-standard DNs, you must use the objectGUID attribute to restore these objects.

To use the objectGUID attribute to restore an object, follow these steps:

1. At a command prompt, type the following command, and then press ENTER:
   Repadmin /options serverName:port+DISABLE_INBOUND_REPLICATION
2. In the Services snap-in, stop the service for the ADAM instance that contains the object.
3. Restore the database of the ADAM instance.
   
   For example, you can use the NTBackup.exe utility to perform the backup operation.
4. Start the service for the ADAM instance.
5. Use the Ldp.exe utility to bind to the ADAM instance.
   
   For more information about how to use the Ldp.exe utility, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site:
   http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc739033.aspx
6. Locate the object that you want to restore and copy the objectGUID attribute of the object.
7. Stop the service for the ADAM instance again.
8. Use the Dsdbutil.exe utility to restore the object. To do this, follow these steps:
   1. Click Start, click Run, type %Windir%\ADAM\Dsdbutil, and then click OK.
   2. At the Dsdbutil.exe: prompt, type activate instance ADAMinstanceName, and then press ENTER.
   3. Type authoritative restore, and then press ENTER.
   4. Type restore object <GUID=objectGUID>, and then press ENTER.
      
      Note In this step, objectGUID represents the objectGUID attribute of the object that you copied in step 6. For example, <GUID=1212-1211-1212121-121212> indicates that 1212-1211-1212121-121212 is the objectGUID.
9. Start the service for the ADAM instance.
10. At a command prompt, run the following command, and then press ENTER:
    Repadmin /options serverName:port -DISABLE_INBOUND_REPLICATION

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: -

For more information about the Dsdbutil.exe utility, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site: For more information about the Ntdsutil.exe utility, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site: