This morning I tried to remove Exchange 2003 on a server due to be decommissioned. During the removal I received a prompt for the installation media, and after I pointed it to my Exchange disk I received this error: "Setup failed while installing sub-component of Windows Active Directory schema update with error code 0xc1037986". It then asked to reboot, so I said yes. After a reboot, none of the Exchange services will start. I've noticed these in the event log: Exchange Server component Microsoft Exchange Messaging and Collaboration Services failed. Error: 0x8000ffff - An unexpected error occurred. Exchange Server component Microsoft Exchange Forest Preparation failed. Error: 0xc1037986 - Cannot find the file. EventType exchangesetuperror, P1 6_5_6944_0, P2 remove, P3 microsoft exchange forest preparation, P4 install, P5 c1037986, P6 _null_, P7 1, P8 NIL, P9 NIL, P10 NIL. Exchange Server component Microsoft Exchange System Management Tools failed. Error: 0xe0070101 - An unknown error has occurred. EventType exchangesetuperror, P1 6_5_6944_0, P2 remove, P3 microsoft exchange system management tools, P4 install, P5 e0070101, P6 _null_, P7 1, P8 NIL, P9 NIL, P10 NIL. I thought I would reapply SP2 and try the removal again, but SP2 will not install because I can't start the Exchange services. The error I am receiving matches up with "Microsoft Exchange Forest Preparation failed". Why would it be trying to run forestprep? Is there a course of action for this server now - it's in a very bad way!

Please verify if you are using the right installation CD, wrong installation file will cause such symptom (Similar issue) Further resources: How to remove Exchange Server 2003 from your computer

Thanks - I had already fixed by using the original installation CD.

I know this is an old thread, But I ran into this issue and discovered that the sbs 2003 r2 disks that were used for install wouldn't work for exchange2003 removal. since sbs2003 is nolonger available on technet, I downloaded and extracted the exchange 2003 iso ( no service packs). when asked for the sbs disk i pointed the wizard to D:\exchange2003disk\SETUP\I386\EXCHANGE and the wizard completed without error. I hope this helps save someone the time it took me to dig through old boxes of disks looking for sbs2003 disks that would work

An old issue I realise, but it took me a while to realise that the "right" installation CD isn't necessarily an installation CD with the version that matches the version of Exchange installed on the system. It was in fact a disk with no service packs that finally enabled our aging Exchange infrastructure to complete the uninstallation process, and not a SP1 or SP2 disk that caused some frustration. Cheers for the pointers James.-- Austin Arrowsmith, Ebor Administrator

May be an old post but was the ticket. I had the same error, found install disks for Exchange Server 2003 with SPs and was able to remove Exchange.PELADMIN

Corrections, with no SPs.PELADMIN

Hi Guys I'm having the same issue except after using the SBS 2003D2 the uninstall failed and exchange is not displaying in the add remove programs so I can't try again. Any ideas?

Probably too late to reply, but try running the setup from the original disk. It should detect that you already have it on the server. Mine did. And yes the original setup disks sorted the above problem for me too.

I didn't installed this exchange, and they don't know where is the original exchange setup disk. I used my exchange installation disk but it didn't work. So is there anyone can tell me how I can find the which installation version of exchange was used when the previous IT guy installed? Thanks