Hi John,

Because the list you see in server manager is created by the
computer browser service unless you have view / "show
domain members" checked. With "show domain members"
checked the list comes from the SAM database.

It generally can take up to 48 minutes for a full browse cycle
to occur in order to remove the name from the list. A computer
contacts the segment master browser via host name announcement
packet to make its presence known on the network during the boot
process at increasing intervals eventually leveling off at every 12
minutes. The master browser will wait at least 3 or 4 12 minute
intervals before removing the machine from the list but there are
other factors which could prolong this process.

"John" <john_nomail@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:
> Hi,
>
> I'd like to know how come it takes hours to delete a computer account
> sometimes? Other times, it's instant.
>
> We've currently running W2K3 Domain with NT4 BDC with "NT4Emulator" switch
> in place on all W2K3 DCs. Sometimes, if I try to delete a computer
> account through "Domain Server Manager", the account is deleted but still
> shows up. Do a sync on all domain controllers and according to Event
> Viewer, the changes were replicated everywhere. Yet, the computer name
> still shows and if I hit delete again, it will say the computer has been
> deleted and it's waiting for another update interval which will happen in
> 15 minutes.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> We currently have 4 W2K3 Domain Controllers, 1 NT4 BDC. Not sure if the
> BDC is doing something weird. However, we're not ready to take the
> NT4Emulator switch off.
>
>