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Getting my exchange 2003 database from non-existing server
I wanted to see something in the system configuration for my server, but before I interrupt it with ctrl+A it started Windows; as my server takes some times to restart I was in a hurry and swithed it off from the power. When I restarted the server it asked me for directory restore mode restarting; I restarted the directory restore mode, but none of the passwords I have could let me through. Tried to repair the windows and that didn't work too. Finally, I gave up and installed a fresh windows on the existing directory; this made my server freeze at boot up. Then I installed windows in a different folder. This seems to work, but didn't want to take the old server name. As this server used to be my master exchange server I have to get all mailbox informations from here. Is there a way that I get my mailboxes from the old server information though I give a different name for my new server? Please help. Tomorrow everybody is at office looking for their emails and I will be dead if the emails are not retrieved. All the data are intact.
Please help.
Please help.
ASKER
hello trenes.
I now I did the one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
You know sometimes you do things that seem simple, then you are in a hell.
For your surprise the password was well documented, but forgot that it is a different one as I installed w2k3 only ones. It came to my mind only after I started the new installation. Anyway griefing doesn't help me. Now I reinstalled everything on a different folder and I see the dead server also in my exchange server list dismounted, but I couldn't mount it. Do you know any other way of accessing the mailboxes, as the data is intact?
Thanks,
I now I did the one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
You know sometimes you do things that seem simple, then you are in a hell.
For your surprise the password was well documented, but forgot that it is a different one as I installed w2k3 only ones. It came to my mind only after I started the new installation. Anyway griefing doesn't help me. Now I reinstalled everything on a different folder and I see the dead server also in my exchange server list dismounted, but I couldn't mount it. Do you know any other way of accessing the mailboxes, as the data is intact?
Thanks,
ASKER
Thank you trenes for the KB link.
But when I try to create the recovery storage group I get the following error
Access is denied
Facility: win32
ID no: c0070005
Exchange System Manager
I see the mailboxstore for the deleted server as dismounted; therefore tried to mount it, but it gives me the error below
The store could not be mounted because the Active Directory Information was not replicated yet. You can either:
- press cancel and mount the store later from its context menu or
- press retry to let the exchange system manager keep trying to mount the store for you.
When I click on Retry, the mailbox store starts mounting and the indicator shows 100%, then it gives the error message
The Microsoft Exchange Information Store Service could not find the specified object.
ID no: c1041722
Exchange System Manager
I don't know what to do. I even wanted to recreate the mailboxes in the newly installed exchange server, but I don't know how to do it without losing the old data. Would you please help any of the EE experts? I stayed in the office for two days, but with no solution.
by the way, the old & new exchange servers are secondary domain controllers in the domain. I still see the old DC in the domain controllers list of the AD.
thank you in advance.
But when I try to create the recovery storage group I get the following error
Access is denied
Facility: win32
ID no: c0070005
Exchange System Manager
I see the mailboxstore for the deleted server as dismounted; therefore tried to mount it, but it gives me the error below
The store could not be mounted because the Active Directory Information was not replicated yet. You can either:
- press cancel and mount the store later from its context menu or
- press retry to let the exchange system manager keep trying to mount the store for you.
When I click on Retry, the mailbox store starts mounting and the indicator shows 100%, then it gives the error message
The Microsoft Exchange Information Store Service could not find the specified object.
ID no: c1041722
Exchange System Manager
I don't know what to do. I even wanted to recreate the mailboxes in the newly installed exchange server, but I don't know how to do it without losing the old data. Would you please help any of the EE experts? I stayed in the office for two days, but with no solution.
by the way, the old & new exchange servers are secondary domain controllers in the domain. I still see the old DC in the domain controllers list of the AD.
thank you in advance.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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ASKER
Hi Trenes,
Thanks to your above instruction, I managed to move the database to a different mailbox store on a different server. I also managed to mount this store and see the mailboxes under it. But I couldn't get access the mailboxes. I wanted to move them to this new server as the other server mailboxe store is always down, but it didn't allow me. Is there any other way to move the mailboxes to the new server and make them accessible? Please help.
I already gave the 250 points to trenes and give the remaining 250 points to anyone who helps me in solving this problem.
Many thanks
Thanks to your above instruction, I managed to move the database to a different mailbox store on a different server. I also managed to mount this store and see the mailboxes under it. But I couldn't get access the mailboxes. I wanted to move them to this new server as the other server mailboxe store is always down, but it didn't allow me. Is there any other way to move the mailboxes to the new server and make them accessible? Please help.
I already gave the 250 points to trenes and give the remaining 250 points to anyone who helps me in solving this problem.
Many thanks
ASKER
Finally I managed to get access to the mailboxes. the things I did are:
1. From Active directory selected all mail enabled users, right-clicked on them then selected "exchange tasks"
2. Then selected "remove exchange attributes", then followed the wizard to detach the users from the current mailboxes
3. When the above task finished, I switched to exchange system manager and from there added the mailbox store of the server to where I moved my databases earlier, in the mailbox recovery center
4. I selected the mailboxes from the mailbox recovery center, right-clicked on them and selected "export" to export the mailboxes
5. After export I selected the mailboxes again in the same container, right-clicked and selected "find match"
6. Then I selected the mailboxes again, right-clicked on them and selected reconnect.
And everything came in places. I felt wonderful and relieved.
1. From Active directory selected all mail enabled users, right-clicked on them then selected "exchange tasks"
2. Then selected "remove exchange attributes", then followed the wizard to detach the users from the current mailboxes
3. When the above task finished, I switched to exchange system manager and from there added the mailbox store of the server to where I moved my databases earlier, in the mailbox recovery center
4. I selected the mailboxes from the mailbox recovery center, right-clicked on them and selected "export" to export the mailboxes
5. After export I selected the mailboxes again in the same container, right-clicked and selected "find match"
6. Then I selected the mailboxes again, right-clicked on them and selected reconnect.
And everything came in places. I felt wonderful and relieved.
ASKER
This question can be closed now.
great to hear it is ok now, have a nice day
ASKER
Thanks trenes,
By the way, I forgot to mention that at the end I run the mailbox clean up agent from the new server where I exported the mailboxes.
By the way, I forgot to mention that at the end I run the mailbox clean up agent from the new server where I exported the mailboxes.
Ouch you made some mistakes here.
Never ever do something in a rush always take your time.
Active Directory restore password is the password you have to give while promoting / installing AD (It should be documented!)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824126
You should be able with the eseutil to do something... ps I have no experience doing this.
Cheers!