Exchange 2010 + Manually remove Public Folder Database (The public folder database "Public Folder Database 1190403426" contains folder replicas.)

Exchange 2010 + Manually remove Public Folder Database (The public folder database "Public Folder Database 1190403426" contains folder replicas.)

I got this error message when trying to remove the last Exchange 2010 mailbox server from my environment which prohibits you from uninstalling Exchange 2010 as a whole. So I thought that I would share my experience and the resolution on Expert Exchange.

SO THE ERROR MESSAGE RECEIVED IS THE FOLLOWING:
ERROR MESSAGE: The public folder database 'Public Folder Database 1190403426' cannot be deleted.
Public Folder Database 1190403426
Failed
Error: The public folder database "Public Folder Database 1190403426" contains folder replicas. Before deleting the public folder database, remove the folders or move the replicas to another public folder database. For detailed instructions about how to remove a public folder database, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=81409&clcid=0x409.

IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE WE WILL HAVE TO USE ADSIEDIT ON YOUR PRIMARY DOMAIN CONTROLLER AND MANUALLY REMOVE THE PUBLIC FOLDER IN QUESTION IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE FOLDER REPLICAS ERROR

Remove the Public Folder from your domain controller using ADSIEDIT. Please see steps below in order to achieve this:

1. Connect to your Primary Domain Controller
2. Click Start and type Adsiedit, now you will see ADSIEdit in your start bar, click to open ADSIEdit
3. Now ones in ADSIEdit, Right Click on ADSI Edit and click connect
4. In the Select a well known Naming Context: drop down select Configuration and Navigate to:
CN=Configuration,DC=contoso,DC=com
CN=Services
CN=Microsoft Exchange
CN=Your Org Name
CN=Administrative Groups
CN=Exchange Administrative Group.
CN=Databases
CN=Public Folder Database 1190403426
5. Right Click on the Public Folder Database in question and Delete it (This will remove the entire public folder in question which will resolve the folder replica issue)
6. Now you can continue with the normal uninstall process which should finish without any further issues.

Please let me know if this article was helpful. This Article also appears in my blog at the following URL: http://helewix.com/blog/index.php/Microsoft-Solutions/2011/07/13/the-public-folder-database-public-folder-database-1190403426-contains-folder-replicas-before-deleting-the-public-folder-database-remove-the-folders-or-move-the-replicas-to-another-public-folder-databa

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Kind Regards,
Hendrik Wiese