How to cleanup AD using PowerShell

The following is a comparison between performing AD cleanup with Windows PowerShell and ADManager Plus:

Windows PowerShell

Steps to perform AD cleanup using PowerShell:

  • Identify the domain in which you want to perform AD cleanup
  • Identify the LDAP attributes you need identify the objects to be deleted.
  • Compile the script.
  • Execute it in Windows PowerShell.

Sample PowerShell script for deleting inactive computers:

 Copied
ForEach ($Item in $Computers){
Remove-ADComputer -Identity $Item.DistinguishedName -Confirm:$false Write-Output "$($Item.Name) - Deleted"
}
Click to copy entire script

ADManager Plus

Steps to perform AD cleanup:

For example: How to delete inactive computers in ADManager Plus

  • Select Management -> Computer Management -> Delete Computers.
  • Choose the domain and OU.
  • Select the desired list of computers or import a CSV file, and click Apply.

Screenshot

How to cleanup Active Directory using ADManager Plus

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Following are the limitations to perform AD cleanup using native tools like Windows PowerShell:

  • We can run this script only from the computers which have Active Directory Domain Services role.
  • Troubleshooting is not easy in case of errors.

ADManager Plus can perform AD objects’ cleanup in bulk armed with just a CSV file from a simple and intuitively designed UI.

Automate and schedule the cleanup of stale accounts with ADManager Plus.

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