What does Windows error code 8374 (ERROR_DS_CROSS_REF_EXISTS) mean?

 
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ERROR_DS_NAME_REFERENCE_INVALID ERROR_DS_CANT_DEL_MASTER_CROSSREF

ERROR_DS_CROSS_REF_EXISTS

The Partitions container already has a matching crossRef

The configuration NC contains a Partitions container whose crossRef objects describe naming contexts. Creating another cross-reference for an NC name that is already represented would make forest partition metadata ambiguous, so the directory rejects the duplicate operation.

The existing object may represent a live partition, a disabled cross-reference, or stale metadata from a failed domain or application-partition lifecycle. Those cases require different actions. Deleting the first object solely to make the create call succeed can damage forest topology information and is especially risky when the configuration NC has not converged.

What to inspect

  • Search the Partitions container by NC name and DNS root, and record the existing crossRef DN and enabled state.
  • Compare the object on multiple DCs to rule out configuration-NC replication lag or a lingering partition view.
  • If the entry belongs to a failed removal, follow the supported domain/DC metadata cleanup path before attempting recreation.

References


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