How to completely remove DFSR data

How to completely remove DFSR

Re-posting: http://netself.com/wp/?p=434

Question

We successfully tested DFSR replication of user data across sites in our network. We now want to completely remove DFSR from both of the servers used in testing as they are going to be repurposed and I need to ensure I get back all the disk space, CPU, and memory. How can I make sure it’s totally removed?

Answer

Good question, we don’t document this (who would ever want to remove DFSR after all?!?! ). This assumes you already removed Replication Groups or removed the members from replication, obviously:

To fully remove DFSR, you need to do the following:

1. Uninstall the DFSR role via Server Manager (on Win2008/R2) or Add/Remove Windows Components (Win2003):

2. Delete the folder(s) that you were replicating.

3. If using Win2008/R2, give yourself access to the hidden operating system folder “System Volume Information” on the C: drive with this command (that should be run as an elevated Admin user; if on Win2003 the Admin will already have permissions):

icacls “c:\system volume information” /grant Administrators:F

4. Repeat step 3 on any drives that had replicated folders, changing the path to that drive.

5. In that CMD prompt (don’t use Windows Explorer) you can then delete the “DFSR” folder that was left behind on those drives. That contains all the staged, pre-existing, and conflicted files in 2008/R2. It also contains the DFSR database and XML files in all versions of Windows. For example:

Rd “c:\system volume information\dfsr” /s /q

6. Repeat as needed on any other drives.

7. Done.

The reason you need to use a CMD prompt on Win2008/R2 is based on how Explorer special-cases the SVI folder and prevents anyone (even admins with full control permissions) from deleting its contents. You have to want it real bad, basically. Win2003 just lets you delete it arbitrarily because he is a punk.