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Exchange 2003 - Can't add distribution group due to old email address entry

Running Exchange 2003 on SBS 2003 R2.

One of the users here had a supplementary email address "info@" added to the "E-mail Addresses" tab in their user properties.

I've deleted all references of 'info' there and now trying to create a distribution group 'info' but keep getting the error...

"The e-mail alias info is already being used by a user named <name>. Specify another alias."

Is there something else I need to do to clear up old references of info pointing to the user?

if you have tried this in the same day - you need to wait for the recipient update services(RUS) to run, alternatively you can force the update:
open exchange system manager, click on recipient then recipient updates. on the right hand side you will see 2 entries right mouse click on each and choose update now.

ASKER

Thanks.

I tried that but getting the same error.

Hi,
Please search the AD for alias "Info". You are very sure it is not there...?
NOt the email address, but the alias?
Thanks
Nitin

The alias is set to "info" and you have deleted the email address not the alias .....
Whats the user name ...

you can remove mail alias by removing Exchange attribute of user might help but if the users name it self is Info then it will again stamp same alias.

To remove users exchange attribute right click user account in AD and exchange tasks remove exchange attribute
that will disconnect the user from mailbox you will se disconnected mailbox in the ESM you can connect it back to user by right clicking on it.

check this:
https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/22849175/How-do-I-locate-and-Exchange-alias.html

Can you give the distrubition list an alias of info2 for example.
This is nothing to do with the e-mail address.

In Active Directory Users and Computers right click the domain name and select find.
Click the Advanced tab
Click Field, select User then Alias and in the value box add info then click Add and then find.

What does this bring back?

ASKER

Here goes...

gupnit:> ADU&C find alias query suggests the 'info' alias is found in user 'Vicky's details (where I orginally deleted it) but I cannot find it anywhere in the users properties dialog boxes, especially not in the alias edit box *which unsurprisingly says 'Vicky' or in the E-mail addresses section (where I originally entered the details).

Narayan_singh:> Tried your option and now cannot reconnect 'Vicky' to Exchange. The option to 'reconnect' is grayed out. Your help to remedy is very much needed now.

I wouldn't have recommended disconnecting the mailbox!

In Exchange System Manager, right click on Mailboxes and select run Cleanup Agent (hopefully your retention period is not set to 0 and your maintenance windows set to every 15 minutes or similary) this will show the mailbox with a red cross, you will then be able to right click and select reconnect.

See here: http://exchangepedia.com/blog/2006/03/how-to-reconnect-mailbox-to-another.html

When did you remove all the details from Vicky?

Once you have reconnected the mailbox, restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.
It may also be worth Under Recipient Update Services, right click on both and select Rebuild.

Sorry for delay .....steped away ....open ESM and expaand mailbox store > click on mailboxes underneath it > run cleanup agent ....you will see red mark on the mailbox and then tr to reconnect it....

You might need to wait for some time and run clean up agent coupleof time....

before running cleanup agent got to store properties and set retention period amke sure there is no Zero "0" there.

ASKER

There's no red, cross, it just that the mailbox cannot be linked back to the user, I have no options in Exchange tasks and most of the exchange specific dialog boxes are now missing in the users properties.

Did you run the cleanup? make sure you press F5 after running cleanup agent to refresh the mailboxes.

Were you abel to create distribution group 'info' now ?

ASKER

Narayan_singh:> Yes but the original mailbox is still completely screwed up. I also think tat all the other supplementary email addresses assigned to that user will now also be missing if/when

demazter:> After running the cleanup agent, the user now has a red cross againt it, Trying to reconnect now comes up with the error. "This recipient already has an email address".

you need to connect it to viky again... connect it to the user who doesnt have mailbox at all.

Can you delete the distribution list you just created this is probably stopping you from re-connecting the mailbox.

Let's get the mailbox reconnected first then we will worry about the distribution list.

"This recipient already has an email address". states that the user you are trying to connect has mailbox .....
Force the AD replication..

ASKER

Deleted info distribution list but but still same error on Vicky's mailbox.

Can you right click on each RUS and select rebuild?

To verify if there is email address for user

start > run > adsiedit.msc > domain partition locate the user and go to properties look for proxyAddress attribute see if there is any email address there.... there shouldnt be any....since attributes are removed.

ASKER

Tried rebuidling several times on both and still has same error.

I have no entries in NTDS Setting to replicate (Is this right for SBS? - Only one server doing everything?)

Hi,
The issue here is not with RUS/Exchange, it lies with AD. See when searching for Alias "Info" you said you found it - right? ADSIEDIT, search for INFO alias and delete it....
I hope you understand, please work on AD part.
Let me know
Thanks
Nitin

If your using SBS why are you not using the wizards to create users/distribution lists?

ASKER

BTW. I have a couple of SMTP entries in the Users E-mail Address properties dialog. I think this is what is causing the error. I tried deleting them but get "This isthe Primary SMTP e-mail address of this recipient. It cannot be removed" c10312f6 and "This isthe home e-mail address of this recipient. It cannot be removed" c10312e8

ASKER

demazter: I was.

ASKER

demazter: I was. I did no try to dreate or delte distribution lists in any other way

I think there are too many "experts" trying to resolve different issues here.

Firstly the advise to disconnect the mailbox was bad, and this was not a process you should have followed.

You now need to try and reconnect this users mailbox.

I will monitor the question but will no longer contribute unless asked to.

Author > I suggest you listen to gupnit he will be able to help you resolve your issues, at the moment there are too many people telling you to do different things and this is just confusing for the experts involved and yourself.

ASKER

gupnit: Thanks but the problem has moved on from there 'info' is no longer the issue. It's reconnecting the original mailbox after clearing the exchnage data I'm now having problems with.

ASKER

gupnit: Just for reference, search for 'info' under Contact/Alies with ADSIEdit came up with no entries.

you sais there are email addressesin users email properties are you talking about the same user viky ? did you check it from adsiedit.

@Glen - Thanks for the confidence. I was actually confused and hence not in mood to contribute.
@Dale - Give me 5 mins, will read the entire thread to get heads up.

Hi,
Ok for a quick recap:

User Vicky has an additional email address info@domain.com
Idea was to delete it, and create a DL with info@domain.com address

Steps taken so far:

Disconnected mailbox (no idea why)
Now unable to reconnect to Vicky

Go like this:

For User Vicky, add another SMTP Address (Ex: test@domain.com)
Delete the last email address that is there, that you werte trying to delete till now
Now try to reconnect Vicky
Once reconnected, add back the email address that is there, that you werte trying to delete till now

Once Mailbox resolved, let me know. Then we will discuss DL
Thanks
Nitin

ASKER

OK. Some slight changes to the recap...

User Vicky has an additional email address info@domain.com Idea was to delete it, and create a DL with info@domain.com address
Steps taken so far: Mailbox became orphaned after running "Remove Exchange Atrributes" Could not reconnect after that.

Go like this:

For User Vicky, add another SMTP Address (Ex: test@domain.com)
- Success
Delete the last email address that is there, that you werte trying to delete till now
- Success
Now try to reconnect Vicky
- Failure - Error Code c1034a07 - "The recipient already has an email address".
Once reconnected, add back the email address that is there, that you werte trying to delete till now

Once Mailbox resolved, let me know. Then we will discuss DL
No need to discuss DL. That seems to be working now.

Hi,
Ok, so now the issue is that you are unable to reconnet Vicky. due to fact that Vicky alreadyhas Exchange Attributes.? Right ?
You right click on user and "Remove Exchange Attributes". A good read: http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2006/10/13/429192.aspx
Let me know, if I understood correct, if yes, then follow above
Thanks
Nitin

ASKER

OK, I've ran "Remove Exchange Atrributes" once more and attempted to reconnect.

I now get the error attached. It seems 'info' is still casuing some issues....

ESM-Error.JPG

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

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ASKER

Woo-hoo. Finally.

I deleted all the DLs I had and recreated them. Seems to have fixed everything.

Cheers guys.

Well done!
Much simpler when there are not so many experts involved!
Sorry you were given information that made te situation worse!

Well done gupnit!

ASKER

Not too worry.
I remember more of what's going on when things go wrong.

I've now got a good handle on ADSIEdit and a few other things I might not have had time to have a look at before.

@Glen - Thanks !
@Dale - Glad that you were able to resolve it finally. Do not forget to close the question - else Cleanup Volunteers will be after your life, like we were !
Thanks
Nitin

Glad it is resolved ..usually removing attribute and conecting mailbox back is pretty simple and doesnt cause this situation .it is just that the attributes werent completly removed in a first go.

Greate work Nitin !

thanks, cheers