I'm having trouble uninstalling an instance of Exchange 2007. Problem is, that there is both a Server 2000 and a Server 2003 in the forest and the Server 2000 have managed to malfunction. I've moved the GC role to the 2003 server, but the Exchange installation won't recognize the 2003 server as a GC. Therefore i can't start AD Topology Service and hence the Information Store. This results in my worst nightmare of the day, i'm unable to uninstall Exchange.Any help is appreciated.Regards Klavs

Klavs,What about the other roles have they been transfered also to another DC.Regards,Johanblog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

I've transfered all 5 roles, but no help.I'm setting up a completly new server running Exchange, so i wanna be able to uninstall this instance of Exchange, since the server is also running SQL 2008 and i don't wanna reinstall the whole thingThanx for the fast reply.Klavs

hi,can you try to remove it from command line via setup.com and its parameters, look at for it here ;http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124115.aspxand look at here too for errors ;http://searchexchange.techtarget.com/generic/0,,sid43_gci1281195,00.htmlregards,Mumin CICEK | Exchange - MVP | www.cozumpark.com | www.mumincicek.com

I've already tried this, but comes back and tells me that there is a Public FolderDatabase running and that i have to make sure that Information Store is running. But IS won't run until AD Topology is running, and that's where it starts going wrong. Since AD i fu**** up and AD Topology won't connect to a GC, IS won't start and i can't uninstall Public Folder Databases, or for that matter, the rest of Exchange.Any thoughts?ThanxKlavs

Let me explain a bit about your issue, see if I understand it correctly: Its a pure exchange 2007 environment, now you cant remove the exchange 2007 server because Microsoft Exchange Information Store and Microsoft Exchange Active Directory Topology Service wont start In every Active Directory directory service site where you plan to install Exchange 2007, you must have at least one global catalog server that is running Windows Server 2003 SP1 or a later version The windows 2003 GC is running SP1 or later version, right? Please use Netdom query fsmo to check the fsmo roles Please run DCDiag and Netdiag to check the health of DCs and connection to DCs from Exchange Server Whats the exact error info we have when attempting to start the two services? And any related event in the application log on the exchange 2007 server? Please run ExBPA on the exchange server for a health check, which may give us more info about the issue

There is a Windows 2000 DC, which was the original GC of the domain. Before installing Exchange 2007, i set up the 2003 Server (with SP2)as a GC and transferred all FSMO roles. I've just run a check from the Exchange server and all 5 roles point towards the 2003 server.DcDiag passes all tests except Systemlog test. I cannot run Netdiag because my Exchange is on a Server 2008, which dosn't support Netdiag.exitStarting the services takes for ever and gives these error mesaages.AD Topology: Topology discovery failed, error 0x80040a02 (DSC_E_NO_SUITABLE_CDC). Look up the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) error code specified in the event description. To do this, use Microsoft Knowledge Base article 218185, "Microsoft LDAP Error Codes." Use the information in that article to learn more about the cause and resolution to this error. Use the Ping or PathPing command-line tools to test network connectivity to local domain controllers. (From Event Viewer, dosn't give any errors in services)Information Store: Error 0x96f connecting to the Microsoft Active Directory. + Unable to initialize the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service. - Error 0x96f. (From Event Viewer)ExBPA gives this. Organization Statistics Summary Processed = Found 1 Active Directory site(s). Found 1 Active Directory domain(s). Found 1 recipient policies. Found 4 address list(s). Found 1 global address list(s). Found 2 mailboxes. Found 1 administrative group(s). Found 1 routing group(s). Found 1 computer(s) running Exchange Server 2007. Found 1 computer(s) running Exchange Server 2007 Service Pack 1. Found 1 computer(s) running Exchange Server 2007 with the Mailbox server role installed. Found 1 computer(s) running Exchange Server 2007 with the Hub Transport server role installed. Found 1 Exchange server(s) running Windows Server 2008. Found 1 Exchange server object(s) in Active Directory. Found 1 mailbox store(s). Found 1 public folder store(s). Average mailboxes per server: 2. Executing workstation Win32_ComputerSystem.Name="CASINOS02" Win32_OperatingSystem=@ RootDSE=@ HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1028 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1029 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1030 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1031 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1032 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1035 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1036 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1038 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1040 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1041 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1042 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1043 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1044 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1045 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1046 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1049 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1053 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\1055 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\2052 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\2070 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\3076 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v2.0.50727\3082 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.0 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.0\Servicing\Windows Workflow Foundation HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.0\Setup\1033 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.5 HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v3.5\1033 ExBPA Execution Active Directory Forest Active Directory Sites Active Directory Domains Exchange Configuration(Error, because IS isn't running) Active Directory Servers Virtual Servers Certificates Permissions Structure Problem is, that the 2000 server has fuc*** up the AD and the Exchange installation keeps telling me there isn't a suitable GC in the domain.If you need more, let me know.I really appriciate thisKlavs

1. Please go to the Properties of both services, and verify that service is using Local System account in the Log On tab 2. How many NICs does exchange server have? Please verify the binding order of the NICs if there are more than one a. Go to Network Connections in the Control Panel b. Click Advanced->Advanced Settings c. In the Adapters and Bindings tab, verify if the active NIC is on the top 3. Please confirm that the exchange server is the member of the Exchange Servers group 4. Please go to DC, verify the setting in the Domain Controllers Security Policy a. Open the Default Domain Controllers Security Policy snap-in on the DC b. Expand to Local Policies->User Rights Assignments c. In the right pane, double-click Manage auditing and security log, see if both the Exchange Servers group and Administrators are listed 5. Please use the cmdlet below the which DC and GC exchange server is using right now Get-ExchangeServer -id ExchangeServerName -Status | fl name,current* Notes: If exchange server is using windows 2000 server, please use the method in this article to hardcode the GC, DC and ConfigDC to Windows 2003 server, see if we can start the services ========= Understanding the Active Directory Driver http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125224.aspx

1. Both services are using "Local System Account" to log on.2. There are 2 NIC's in the server, but only one is in use. The other has been disabled.3. Server is a member of "Exchange Servers" group4. Cannot, since Snap-In fails when trying to open "Domain Controller Security Policy, because i "might not have the appropriate rights" even though i'm logged on as Domain Admin.5. Cannot get this info: Get-ExchangeServer : The operation could not be performed because object 'ExhcangeServerName' could not be found on domain controller 'xxx.xxxx.xxx'At line:1 char:19+ Get-ExchangeServer <<<< -id ExhcangeServerName -Status | fl name,current*No luck trying to hardcode things either.I think there's been a problem on the Server 2000 machine, which have fuc*** up the entire AD throughout the installation. Therefor, Exhcange can't use Server 2003 machine for these operations.But, here's another thought..... I've just set up a new Server 2008 machine (although on another domain) to replace this Server 2000 machine!! Can i try to connect to this in order to be able to uninstall Exchange and how do i go about this without destroying everything in my SQL installation??Thanx for everythingKlavs

Please refer the step 2 in my post above to ensure that the used NIC stays on the top of the binding order. If not, please change the used one to the top and see if the services can be started after that In the step 5, the domain controller xxx.xxxx.xxx, is it that windows 2000 server? About the summary of ExBPA above, what shows in the All Issues tab in the report? Please launch EMC on the exchange server, right-click the Organization Configuration or Server Configuration node, click Modify Configuration Domain Controller option, see if we can choose windows 2003 server from there

1. I've checked and the used NIC is on top of the binding order.2. xxx.xxxx.xxx in step 5 indicates the 2003 server.3. "All Issues" in the ExBPA shows:Organization:Junkstore threshold not configuredAdmin Group: No Client Access server role foundServer: xxxxxxxxxxOffline address book definition is missingMicrosoft Exchange system Attendant service not runningMicrosoft Filter Pack not installedStore service not runningMailbox store will not mount on start-upApplication log sizeCrash upload logging disabled4. I've launched EMC and set the 2003 server as DC in "Modify Configuration Domain Controller". Tried starting the services, but no dice..... Still no luck!!Whats there to do now?ThanxKlavs