DCPROMO Demote AD2003 while offline network

Hello,<o:p></o:p>

Need some assistance please..<o:p></o:p>

we had a site 2003 sever running as an AD in an office that was closed- the server was
already taken down when it was removed from GC at the home office. Now it sits disconnected
and I'd like to Demote it using DC PROMO and repurpose it as a member of the
domain. How should I do this without disrupting the current network? DO I need
to have it connected to the domain prior to running DC PROMO?<o:p></o:p>

Thank you,

M