Have a 2003 server (SP2/fully updated)with Exchange 2003 SP2. As of two days ago, MTA stacks will not start. I know this is not needed in non-mixed mode but we use a 3rd party pop connector so we need to run MTA. When service tries to start, it reports immediately it didn't respond to the start event in the alloted time. System log logs the following: Event ID: 7000 The Microsoft Exchange MTA Stacks service failed to start due to the following error: The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion. Event ID: 7009 Timeout (30000 milliseconds) waiting for the Microsoft Exchange MTA Stacks service to connect. That's it. All other Exchange (and all other services for that matter) start with no problems and no other errors are generated. I've verified the mtadata databasefiles contain no errors, even did a wipe. Ran the ExTRA toolthat found no problems. I can't see any reason for this not to start. I've gone through all MS and other suggestions I can find to no avail and I'm left with either some hope of a response from here or to contact MS. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/840469Sorry - you say you tried all the ms stuff but I dont know what that includes - did you try the above link??pete

yep, tried that