In our lab I’m trying to install an Exchange 2010, on a W2k8 r2 64bit (physical hardware). I would like to join it to our Exchange 2003 Org. Lab settings: Single DC, this is the FSMO server, also the domain exchange account is in Enterprise and Schema Admins groups. Two Exchange 2003 servers with 600 mailboxes. On the new Exc2010 server prerequistes have been installed: .Net 3.5.1 Office Filter Pack NetTcp port set to auto Import-Module ServerManager and Add-WindowsFeatures installed. I’ve tried both Typical and Custon Installations, the Readiness Checks runs. Organization Prereqs, Completed with a Yellow ! Warning: Setup is goimng tp prepare for Exchange 2010 by using Setup /PrepareAD. No Exchange 2007 server roles have been detected…. This looks like a standard msg. The next three completed successfully with Green checks Mailbox role Prereq: Completed with Yellow ! Warning: If MS Outlook 2003 is in use, you should replicate free and busy…. Again, this looks like a non-show stopper. Continued with the Install. It stops at the Org Preparation, with error msg. · Error:The following error was generated when "$error.Clear(); install-ExchangeSchema -LdapFileName ($roleInstallPath + "Setup\Data\"+$RoleSchemaPrefix + "schema0.ldf")" was run: "There was an error while running 'ldifde.exe' to import the schema file 'C:\Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup\Setup\Data\PostWindows2003_schema0.ldf'. The error code is: 8206. More details can be found in the error file: 'C:\Users\administrator.TKA\AppData\Local\Temp\ldif.err'". There was an error while running 'ldifde.exe' to import the schema file 'C:\Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup\Setup\Data\PostWindows2003_schema0.ldf'. The error code is: 8206. More details can be found in the error file: 'C:\Users\administrator.TKA\AppData\Local\Temp\ldif.err' Thanks, Tony

There should be an error log in the %temp% directory called LDIF.ERR that contains the details of the error. Take a look at that log file for more information. Also, make sure you have Schema admin permission. This error (8206) generally means AD replication or related issues. Make sure you can access all DCs and replication is working. Also, here is my one of my old articles: http://portal.sivarajan.com/2009/05/my-first-peek-into-microsoft-exchange.html Santhosh Sivarajan | MCTS, MCSE (W2K3/W2K/NT4), MCSA (W2K3/W2K/MSG), CCNA, Network+ Houston, TX http://blogs.sivarajan.com/ http://publications.sivarajan.com/ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Thank you for the reply back. At first I didn't have the Domain Exchange account in the Schema admin group, this I got resolved. I only have one DC setup in our lab, do I need all of our DC's setup?? I'll review the log. Regards, TZ

No you don’t need more one DC. You can start with one. Make sure the account you are using has proper permissions. Here is a good reference article: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354.aspx Santhosh Sivarajan | MCTS, MCSE (W2K3/W2K/NT4), MCSA (W2K3/W2K/MSG), CCNA, Network+ Houston, TX http://blogs.sivarajan.com/ http://publications.sivarajan.com/ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Santhosh, Thanks for all your help. I found the error log and it said it had trouble replicating to another DC, so built a 2nd DC. I had one other problem with the install, it appears you need the Windows Firewall started. Installed completed. Thanks again, Best Regards, TZ

Yes. You need to fix the AD replication issues first. Then try the Exchange installation. Santhosh Sivarajan | MCTS, MCSE (W2K3/W2K/NT4), MCSA (W2K3/W2K/MSG), CCNA, Network+ Houston, TX http://blogs.sivarajan.com/ http://publications.sivarajan.com/ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Thank you for all sharing! Have you any updates? Your expertise never fails to impress :)

Any update on the issue?Santhosh Sivarajan | MCTS, MCSE (W2K3/W2K/NT4), MCSA (W2K3/W2K/MSG), CCNA, Network+ Houston, TX http://blogs.sivarajan.com/ http://publications.sivarajan.com/ This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Hi all, I have a similar issue. 2 server 2008 r2 full patched. One is the DC the other one should be the exchange 2010 r2. When I run the setup I get over all the prerequisites but when the setup launch the real installation after about 2 sec I get this error: Summary: 13 item(s). 0 succeeded, 1 failed. Elapsed time: 00:00:02 Organization Preparation Failed Error: The following error was generated when "$error.Clear(); install-ExchangeSchema -LdapFileName ($roleInstallPath + "Setup\Data\"+$RoleSchemaPrefix + "schema0.ldf") " was run: "There was an error while running 'ldifde.exe' to import the schema file 'C:\Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup\Setup\Data\PostWindows2003_schema0.ldf'. The error code is: 31. More details can be found in the error file: 'C:\Users\administrator.XXX\AppData\Local\Temp\2\ldif.err'". There was an error while running 'ldifde.exe' to import the schema file 'C:\Windows\Temp\ExchangeSetup\Setup\Data\PostWindows2003_schema0.ldf'. The error code is: 31. More details can be found in the error file: 'C:\Users\administrator.XXX\AppData\Local\Temp\2\ldif.err' Click here for help... http://technet.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ms.exch.err.default(EXCHG.141).aspx?v=14.1.218.11&e=ms.exch.err.Ex88D115&l=0&cl=cp Thanks

Check the permission on your account Run Setup.com /ps Setup.com /pl and Setup.com /preparead Make sure you are running CommandPrompt as AdministratorGulab | Skype: gulab.mallah

Check the permission on your account Run Setup.com /ps Setup.com /pl and Setup.com /preparead Make sure you are running CommandPrompt as AdministratorGulab | Skype: gulab.mallah

First prepare schema, on DC that is Schema Master FSMO role. User should have Schema Admin Right. Run: - setup /PrepareLegacyExchangePermissions - setup /PrepareSchema - setup /PrepareAD If it fails, than you do not have permission on schema or Exchange 2003 organization. Run following command on DC, to see replication status : Repadmin /syncall /A /e /P Repadmin /replsummary Repadmin /showrepl *

Were you ever able to resolve this? I am encountering the exact same issue w/ error code 31 when it tries to run ldifde to extend schema. All checks and prereqs passed successfully. Anyone, anyone??

Did anyone resolve this? I'm also facing this problem with error code 31. I was able to track down, that it is only a media with SP1 problem. When I tried with RTM media, the setup /prepareschema was successfully ran. But if I try SP1 media it fails. I downloaded SP1 media from vlsc and from MSDN, but with both of those medias the problem remains. So, is the only possibility to use RTM media, and upgrade to SP1 after installation? Or has someone found a way to use SP1 media also? Regards, Jouko

As to another post, my last comment can be ignored. The problem was caused by Winzip, as I used it to unpack the ISO-files. Seems that it couldn't unpack all as they should. Iwas even able to start the setup, select languages, select install, but when the license page showed up, it was scrambled text. But thanks anyway. Regards, Jouko

I Agree with MaliStane - I had this exact problem myself last week and this is how I fixed it: Exchange 2010 Install Error - There was an error while running 'ldifde.exe' Pete PeteNetLive