How to disable the drag-and-drop functionality of the Active Directory Users and Computers tool in Windows Server 2003

This article describes a hotfix that you can install to modify the behavior of the Active Directory Users and Computers tool.

By default, the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory directory service lets you drag objects to other locations in Active Directory. However, you may experience a situation where an administrator unintentionally drags an Active Directory object to an incorrect location. To help prevent this situation, you may want to prevent administrators from using the drag-and-drop functionality of the Active Directory Users and Computers tool.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, install the latest Windows Server 2003 service pack. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites are required.

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart your computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Server 2003, x86-based versions

Windows Server 2003, Itanium-based versions

Windows XP, x86-based versions together with the Windows Administration Tools

Windows XP, Itanium-based versions together with the Windows Administration Tools

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section. This problem was first corrected in Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1.

After you install this hotfix, or after you install Windows Server 2003 SP1, you must set the first bit of the flags attribute in the DisplaySpecifiers container in Active Directory to disable the drag-and-drop functionality of the Active Directory Users and Computers tool. When you set this bit, it modifies the behavior of the Active Directory Users and Computers tool for every user in the forest. To set this bit, follow these steps.

Warning If you use the ADSI Edit snap-in, the LDP utility, or any other LDAP version 3 client, and you incorrectly modify the attributes of Active Directory objects, you can cause serious problems. These problems may require you to reinstall Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server, Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, or both Windows and Exchange. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems that occur if you incorrectly modify Active Directory object attributes can be solved. Modify these attributes at your own risk.

1. Start the ADSI Edit tool. To do this, click Start, click Run, type adsiedit.msc in the Open box, and then click OK.
   
   Note The ADSI Edit tool is included with the Windows Support Tools. To install the Windows Support Tools, double-click SUPPTOOLS.MSI in the Support\Tools folder on the Windows Server 2003 CD.
2. Connect to a domain controller, if ADSI Edit is not already connected to a domain controller.
3. Expand Configuration [domainControllerName.example.com], expand CN=Configuration,DC=example,DC=com, right-click CN=DisplaySpecifiers, and then click Properties.
4. In the CN=DisplaySpecifiers Properties dialog box, click the Attribute Editor tab.
5. In the Attributes list, click flags, and then click Edit.
6. In the Value box, type 1.
7. Click OK two times, and then exit the ADSI Edit tool.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: