Problems Reinstalling Office 365 DirSync

This has happened to me countless times in the field and it is time to write up the process on my own. Either the client has an older version of the DirSync tool installed or there is some sort of errors that require reinstalling Office 365 DirSync. Special thanks go to Joseph Turley for the original write up on which this is based.

Uninstall Old AADSync Tool

If the server is running an older version of AADSync then below is a list of applications that are to be removed:

Microsoft Azure AD Sync
Microsoft Online Services Sign-in Assistant [Restart is required]
Forefront Identity Manager Windows Azure Active Directory Connector

There should then be a reboot of the server to finish these uninstallations. Additionally, the Azure AD Sync Scheduler scheduled task needs to be removed from the Task Scheduler to complete the removal of AADSync. There are also several user accounts in Active Directory Users and Computers that will need to be removed either titled something like “AAD…” or “ADSync…” for the reinstall to work properly. Also need to remove the folders named something like “C: > Program Files > Microsoft Azure AD…” before attempting to start the new installer. There might also be some leftovers in the registry that need to be removed as follows:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\{1EE655FB-EC8A-4CFE-BFE7-E8D46BC87B6A}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\AD Sync
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Local DB
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSOLCoExistence
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\MicrosoftAzureADConnectionTool
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tasks\{0311B5B5-B05D-47A0-89D8-98AED5A0D204}
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Schedule\TaskCache\Tree\Azure AD Sync Scheduler
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\eventlog\Application\AzureActiveDirectoryDirectorySyncTool
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\DirectorySyncTool_RASAPI32
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\DirectorySyncTool_RASMANCS

Uninstall Newer DirSync Tool

If the server is running a more current version of DirSync then below is a list of applications that are to be removed:

Windows Azure Active Directory Sync Tool
Microsoft Online Services Sign-in Assistant [Restart is required]
Forefront Identity Manager Synchronization Service

There should then be a reboot of the server to finish these uninstallations. There are several user accounts in Active Directory Users and Computers that will need to be removed either titled something like “AAD…” or “ADSync…” or “FIMSync…” for the reinstall to work properly. Also need to remove the folders named something like “C: > Program Files > Windows Azure…” and the database files located in a folder named something like “C: > Program Files > Microsoft SQL Server > MSSQL**.MSONLINE > MSSQL > DATA > FIMSync…” before attempting to start the installer.

Reinstalling Office 365 DirSync Tool

Log into the customer’s Office365 portal as a global administrator.
Click on the Admin tile
Click on the Users item in the left pane to expand it then click on Active Users
At the top of the main pane next to “Active Directory synchronization:” click on Manage
Make sure the at Active Directory synchronization is activated
Download the Directory Sync tool by clicking on Download button
Double click the installer
Type in your Office365 global administrator credentials then click “Next >” button
Type in your domain administrator credentials then click “Next >” button
Ignore the page on Hybrid and click “Next >” button
Make sure the box next to Active Directory Password Sync is checked and then click “Next >” button
Click on Install then on Finish to complete the install

Another handy thing to do after the installation is complete is to make a shortcut on the desktop for the miisclient software that monitors the sync process. It is located at “c: > Program Files > Windows Azure Active Directory Sync > SYNCBUS > Synchronization Service > UIShell > miisclient.exe” (this also allows for manual syncs when needed).
If your company needs help reinstalling Office 365 DirSync or help setting up Active Directory Password Sync for single sign-on, then contact us for assistance.

Posted in : Active Directory, Email, Office 365, Servers, Troubleshooting