I am not interested in migrating my old public folder database into the new Exchange 2013 environment. However when I try to create a new public folder mailbox I get the following error. "An existing Public Folder deployment has been detected. To migrate existing Public Folder data, create new Public Folder mailbox using -HoldForMigration switch." How can I just go about creating a new Public Folder mailbox from scratch without migrating? Do I need to use the -HoldforMigration switch even if I'm not planning on migrating public folders? Vincent Sprague

Hi , If you already have Exchange 2010 SP3 or Exchange 2007 SP3 RU10 public folders in your organization prior to installing Exchange 2013, you must migrate those public folders to Exchange 2013. Exchange 2013 public folders and legacy public folders cant exist in your Exchange organization simultaneously. Public Folders Migrate public folders from previous versions: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj150538(v=exchg.150).aspxWendy Liu TechNet Community Support

Could I just take the legacy public folders offline and removed them from the environment and then setup public folders on the Exchange 2013 environment?Vincent Sprague

Hi Yes, of course, if your meaning is remove public folder database. Note: legacy Exchange mailboxes are unable to access the public folder hierarchy on Exchange 2013 servers. However, user mailboxes on Exchange 2013 servers can connect to legacy public foldersWendy Liu TechNet Community Support

Just to make things absolutely clear: If you do use Public folders, do not remove your Exchange 2007/2010 Public folder database until all users and also your Public Folder Hierarchy has been migrated to Exchange 2013 ! As Wendy said, users still on Exchange 2007 and 2010 cannot access Public Folders on Exchange 2013...

If you wish to migrate then you can check this article http://msexchangeguru.com/2013/04/18/exchange2013-public-folders/Regards, Prabhat Nigam XHG and AD Architect and DR Expert Website: msexchangeguru.com VBC: https://www.mcpvirtualbusinesscard.com/VBCServer/wizkid/card