We have 3 Public folder server (dedicated) to host 500 Parent Public Folders - we have lot of subfolders under each parent folder.All the 3 servers has its own set of PFs. we were in the process of reducing the public folders and Due to Hardware issue, one of the public folder servers crashed.We restored all the Folders from backup - that were there on failed server. ( we have brick level backup)To restore, we created a common RESTORE folder and restored all the folders under this.We managed to bring the server up and running but NOT THE DATABASE.Soft recovery fails with corrupted transaction log.I'm affraid to run hard repair on Public Folder database.Question:1. The server crashed while moving (Replace replica server) couple of folders (100 folders). Now those folders have only the new server in the replica list but it generates replication messages to old server. How can stop this?2. Can I mount a blank PF database on the crashed server? - If it do what will be the impact?3. Can I remove (Uninstall) exchange from this server? If I remove exchange server from the problematic server, will it solve our problems?Thanks in advance.Veera.Veerappan Sundaram

Hi, If You have confirmed that the instances of all the folders have been created on the new server the best option is to remove the public folder from the problematic server using adsiedit.The steps for doing this are given in the below linkhttp://msexchangetips.blogspot.com/2006/07/exchange-cannot-delete-public-folder.htmlThis will stop the replication of messages to old server. Mahendra

1. The server crashed while moving (Replace replica server) couple of folders (100 folders). Now those folders have only the new server in the replica list but it generates replication messages to old server. How can stop this? Please try to add/remove the old server from the replica list after the recovery 2. Can I mount a blank PF database on the crashed server? - If it do what will be the impact? “If you mount mailbox stores and public folder stores before you restore the Exchange databases, you can cause problems that include the potential loss of data” ---------Refer to <Member Server Recovery Procedures> 3. Can I remove (Uninstall) exchange from this server? If I remove exchange server from the problematic server, will it solve our problems? Please recover the server at first, and then remove the exchange server The resources below may help for the server recovery: Exchange Member Server Recovery Recovering an Exchange DatabaseJames Luo TechNet Subscriber Support (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms788697.aspx) If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com

James,Thanks for your time and guidance.Already we tried to restore this Public folder database (we don't have any mailboxes here) to a recovery server. Unfortunately few transaction logs in the tape also gone bad (not reading from th tape). We could bring up the database with older information (say 30 days older than the crash date).1. If we restore PF database, it will not replicate to any server (in my experience i have seen this - please let me know if there is a way to make it happen).2. Suppose if we run the recovery process in the production server what will be the impact?Thanks,Veera.Veerappan Sundaram

Yes, It coule generate replication. To resolve this you need to remove recover server name from replication list before restore DB.Anil

Does Anil's suggestion work for the case?James Luo TechNet Subscriber Support (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/ms788697.aspx) If you have any feedback on our support, please contact tngfb@microsoft.com

I need to have a check on his suggestion.Thanks,Veera.Veerappan Sundaram