Server already hosts a namespace with that name

I find myself in what may be a unique scenario.

Our division utilized DFS for our file shares amongst the users. Currently,
the root is hosted on a Windows 2000 Server. A few weeks ago, we had built a
new file server to migrate shares off of the aging systems. One of those
systems is the current namespace server with the DFS Root. I built the file
server with Windows Server 2008 Standard 64bit and proceeded to add the
system as a root replica. Unfortunately, the new system had to be taken
offline for another purpose. We kept one of the mirrored hard drives of the
OS so that we could bring it back online a bit quicker when it returned.
During it's absence, the current DFS Root server started having some issues
not being able to replicate to the new server. A team member removed it from
the namespace.

Now that the server has returned, I gave it a slightly different name and
joined it to the domain. I have attempted to add the new server back as a
Namespace Server to be a Root Replica and start the transition. But DFS will
not allow me to complete the addition. It brings up a message that this new
server hosts the DFS namespace I am trying to add to it.

I have looked in the registry to try to forcibly remove it and did not find
any of the entries described in the KB article. I earlier today made the
mistake of deleting the namespace on the new server which in turn removed it
from the organization. I thankfully had a backup to rebuild the pointers.

Does anyone have some answers or suggestions on how to get this server back
on track? When i try to remove the DFS role from the system it tells me i
have to delete the namespace (thus my earlier fun today ).

If I have to reinstall, that is an option. But if there is something I have
overlooked that would prevent it, then I am all ears.

thanks