What does Windows error code 8490 (ERROR_DS_PDC_OPERATION_IN_PROGRESS) mean?

 
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ERROR_DS_CANT_MOVE_DELETED_OBJECT ERROR_DS_CROSS_DOMAIN_CLEANUP_REQD

ERROR_DS_PDC_OPERATION_IN_PROGRESS

The PDC emulator is busy with an operation requiring exclusivity

Some security-principal and migration operations are serialized through the PDC emulator because they need a single authoritative coordination point. This status is not a generic indication that the domain controller is overloaded. It means another operation already owns the PDC-specific state or checkpoint that the requested directory change needs.

Identify the PDC emulator for the affected domain and correlate Directory Service, SAM, and migration logs at the time of the request. Determine whether another cross-domain move, SID-history operation, password-related task, or administrative workflow is still active. Wait for that operation to reach a terminal state rather than repeatedly submitting competing requests. If the condition persists, investigate a stalled service or incomplete migration transaction before considering role transfer.

What to inspect

  • Confirm which DC currently owns the PDC emulator role.
  • Find the earlier operation that obtained the exclusive PDC state.
  • Avoid parallel migration batches that target the same coordination path.

References


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