I've read http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123730.aspx however is there a way to disable a mailbox without emptying the contents. I would also like to know the syntax in powershell.

Disable mailbox remove all the exchange attributes but keep the mailbox in disconnected state until retention period is over so you can connect it anytime before it is over... What are you trying to do? You can disable the AD user account to disable access but keep the mailbox content as it is...Amit Tank | MVP Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com

When disabling an AD user account, the Exchange account will still be active. E.g. sending out of office mails as reply for all incoming mail to that account. I wish to disable an account like we do in AD, where a users attributes is not touched except for it being marked as disabled. I tried using PowerShell disable-mailbox. And when I then did enable-mailbox on the same object one hour later, all mails in the user account was gone. So I wonder what you talk about concerning retention period.

How did you enable it? Actually to get the data back you need to connect the mailbox available in "Disconnected Mailbox" where retention period applies on the disconnected mailboxes How to Connect a Mailbox http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb201701.aspx Enable-Mailbox will create a new mailbox and exchange attributes so you won't get the data back...Amit Tank | MVP Exchange Server | MCITP: EMA | MCSA: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com

Hi hal,I agreed with amit.Exchange 2007 mailbox disable keeps mailbox data in dumpster until purged.(keep data till retention period expire).If you remove the mailbox than mailbox and active directory account will removed and keep data until retain on period expire..You said you all mails gone after one hour disabled account. Please check your retention period settings. As amity said you can disable the active directory account then you can resrect the user to logging to his account but that account able to get emails from other users.Regards Chinthaka Shameera | MCITP: EA | MCSE: M | http://ExchangeShare.WordPress.com

thank you very much for clarifying this, both of you :)