Hello all! The problem is: For 3 years we use Exchange 2007. But now i need to restore mailbox from 2007 year from Exchange 2003 of some user, that still works in a company and of course his mailbox now is stored on Exchange 2007. So actually i need now to restore DataBase of Exchange 2003 on server with Exchange 2003 installed on and to reconnect the mailbox of that user to some account and at the end to export needed information to PST file. I know there is some trick, that could help. I heard about something like that: 1. To create Recovery Storage Group(RSG) in Exchange 2003. 2. Restore Data Base(DB). 3. To mount DB to RSG and to dismount after. 4. To create Mailbox Storage Group. 5. To add Mailbox Store to Mailbox Storage Group with .edb and .stm file names same as in RSG. 6. To dismount MBX from Mailbox Storage Group. And that's it - after it i don't remember what to do? Can you please assist me? Thanks a lot!

Take a look at this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824126.

Thanks, but it's not what i need. As i said i need something like exchanging between Recovery Storage Group and MailBox Store for be able to reconnect needed mailbox to any User Account.

You need to change it up according to your needs. Once you have RSG, all you need is restore the DB. The DB will be restored on the RSG. Then, you can merge between RSG and the live DB. Just make a sandbox test environment and you'll see what I'm talking about. It's not that hard, but you need to be prepared for your OWN environment.

Jose Rebellon, MCP, MCTS Jose, i need to know exactly what to do. If you can explain me step by step i'd like you so much. Jose, just to be sure i've explaned not bad. I need somehow to switch between RSG and Mailbox Store, that be able to reconnect needed mailboxes to some user without mailbox(do not to reconnect mailboxes to users, that ever were beeb linked them) .

Here are a few other good articles on RSG http://www.petri.co.il/restoring_exchange_mailbox_recovery_storage_group_part1.htm and http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Exchange_Server_2003_Mailbox_Recovery.html and http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Recovering-Mailboxes-Exchange2003-SP1.html If you are interesting in a 3rd party solution check out Lucid8's DigiScope http://www.lucid8.com/product/digiscope.asp which provides you with a GUI environment to Open an OFFLINE EDB so that you can Browse, Search, Export Mailboxes and items to PST, MSG and XML or to recover the required data directly to any Online Production Exchange Server. Troy Werelius www.Lucid8.com

Troy Werelius Thanks a lot! But No! No! And No! I can do regular restore using Recovery Storage Group - it's not a problem at all. As i've said, i'm talking about using RSG and NEW MAILBOX STORE. Exchanging between them, so i could use after RSG instead Mailbox Store for reconnecting mailboxes withing RSG Data Base to users i want to. Thanks.

Jose Rebellon, MCP, MCTS Jose, i need to know exactly what to do. If you can explain me step by step i'd like you so much. Jose, just to be sure i've explaned not bad. I need somehow to switch between RSG and Mailbox Store, that be able to reconnect needed mailboxes to some user without mailbox(do not to reconnect mailboxes to users, that ever were beeb linked them) . There is no way to switch the DB in RSG to the production DB. You need to setup your environment to successfully accomplish your restoration. That's what I did with our environment. Keep us posted.

I meant to say you need to setup a test environment to further understand your environment and RSG.

There are steps: 1. Create RSG. 2. Restore needed Mailbox Store DB. 3. Mount this DB to RSG. 4. Dismount DB. 5. Create Mailbox Store. 6. Add to Mailbox Store DB with .edb and .stm files name same to files of RSG. 7. Mount this DB to Mailbox Store. 8. Dismount DB of Mailbox Store. 8. Change name of RSG folder on filesystem to name of Mailbox created in step "5". 9. Select "This database can be overwritten by a restore" checkbox in DB settings of Mail Box Store created in step "5". 10. Mount DB to Mailbox Store again. After all these steps when you open your Mailbox Store you will see all Mailboxes inside as disconnected. My problem now, because the user still exists and GUID of mailbox is exactly, that Restored DB stores, i can't reconnect it to any user. So i actualy need to play with GUID of Mailbox or something:-)

Did you delete the user object from DC? If so, use ADRestore to restore the object. This will allow you to have the same SID and GUID.

You will not run into GUID issue, what you will run into a duplicate legacyexchagnedn issue. What you need to do is temporarily swap the legacyexchangedn with the live user to the dummy account using adsiedit then you can connect the restored mailbox to the dummy account. From that point on you can export. When completed, enter the exchangelegacydn back to the live account.James Chong MCITP | EA | EMA; MCSE | M+, S+ Security+, Project+, ITIL msexchangetips.blogspot.com