I have a single Exchange 2003 std SP2 server running on W2K3 R2 and I have started to reach my mailstore limits, I am checking the mailstore size by combining the priv1.edb and priv1.st, dbs at the moment they total to 74GB. I have recently deleted a lot of mailboxes but it does not seem to have reduced the size of the two dbs. I understand that the mailstore size limit in exchange 2003 std is 70GB.

How much free space is available according to event 1221? Deleting mailboxes is not enough, they have to also be purged and the free space reclaimed. If the deleted maiblox retention is set to 30 days, they wont be purge for a month. YOu may want to set it to a low number a let IS Maintenance run. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/186291 The limit can actually be raised to 75GB: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912375

Thanks for the information, however can I create an seconf mailstore in exchange 2003 std sp2

You wouls have to bring up another Exchange Server. Standard supports only one mailbox database per server: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/822440 Comparison between Exchange Server 2003 Standard Edition and Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise Edition

Maybe it's time for an offline defrag http://www.petri.co.il/defragment_exchange_2000_2003_server_databases.htm http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192185 Jonas Andersson MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007/2010 | MCITP: EMA 2007/2010 | MCSE/MCSA Blog: http://www.testlabs.se/blog