Deactivate a class or attribute

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

To deactivate a class or attribute

Open the Active Directory Schema snap-in.
In the console tree, click Active Directory Schema.
Do one of the following:
- To deactivate a class, in the console tree, click Classes. In the details pane, right-click the class you want to deactivate, and then click Properties.
- To deactivate an attribute, in the console tree, click Attributes. In the details pane, right-click the attribute you want to deactivate, and then click Properties.
On the General tab, clear the Class is active or Attribute is active check box, as appropriate.

Notes

To perform this procedure, you must be a member of the Schema Admins group in Active Directory, or you must have been delegated the appropriate authority. As a security best practice, consider using Run as to perform this procedure. For more information, see Default local groups, Default groups, and Using Run as.
The Active Directory Schema snap-in must be connected to the schema master to perform this procedure. The Active Directory Schema snap-in connects to the schema master by default when it is started.
If the Active Directory Schema snap-in is not installed, see Other Resources.
The status of an attribute or class is displayed in the Status column of the details pane. Once a class or attribute has been deactivated, it is considered defunct.
Default schema attributes or classes in the base schema cannot be deactivated. Only attributes or classes added as extensions to the base schema can be deactivated.
Classes and attributes added to the base schema can be deactivated without raising the forest functional level. However, they can be redefined only in forests with the forest functional level set to Windows Server 2003.
To view defunct classes or attributes, click Classes or Attributes, and then on the View menu, click Defunct Objects.

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