Remove naughty Exchange 2007 Server
I am new to the forum so please bare with me if this is the wrong place to post this question!
My friend has an Exchange 2007 Server on a Windows Server 2008 server and he has moved his email to Microsoft's hosting service. He is not doing all the Active Directory linking and stuff because he only has 18 employees and just wants to make things as
simple as possible.
So we are trying to uninstall this Exchange server altogether because he has been VERY naughty, crashing and such.
The problem is the public folders database can not be removed, via the friendly user interface or the exchange command line thingy...
These commands seem to work...
Get-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> "\" -Recurse -ResultSize:Unlimited | Remove-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> -Recurse -ErrorAction:SilentlyContinue
Get-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> "\Non_Ipm_Subtree" -Recurse -ResultSize:Unlimited | Remove-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> -Recurse -ErrorAction:SilentlyContinue
These worked, or at least there were no errors. But when I go to remove the public folder database it tells me there are still replicas.
Boo Exchange 2007! I am still googling but thought I would ask the experts here...
August 13th, 2010 6:36pm
Here is the error we get...
http://img.skitch.com/20100813-terjrpm4jtwutf3x31f8e88t4x.png
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August 13th, 2010 7:26pm
U go to remove the repilcas as the link is suggested, or delete them. read the articles carefully.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927464 <---- To remove the last public folder store in an organization, run the following command.Important See
the cautionary note at the beginning of the "Remove the Exchange Server 2007 Mailbox server role" section before you remove the last public folder store in an organization.
Get-PublicFolderDatabase | Remove-PublicFolderDatabase -RemoveLastAllowed
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/07/09/445967.aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123893(EXCHG.80).aspx
All the best
August 13th, 2010 7:57pm
Hey ZarkoC, thanks for your links...
So... there isnt anywhere to move the public folders too. I thought the delete commands I was running would wipe them out. (the ones above)
When I run that command in the Exchange Shell thingy I get this error below... It tells me to run those commands (the ones above that I ran). Exchange is so drama and complicated! LOL! I know they are trying to keep people from deleting stuff, at least I
think..
[PS] C:\Windows\system32>Get-PublicFolderDatabase | Remove-PublicFolderDatabase
-RemoveLastAllowed
Remove-PublicFolderDatabase : The public folder database "CORPORATE\Second Stor
age Group\Public Folder Database" contains folder replicas. Before deleting the
public folder database, remove the folders or move the replicas to another pub
lic folder database. For detailed instructions about how to remove a public fol
der database, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=81409.
At line:1 char:55
+ Get-PublicFolderDatabase | Remove-PublicFolderDatabase <<<< -RemoveLastAllow
ed
+ CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (CORPORATE\Secon...Folder Data
base:ADObjectId) [Remove-PublicFolderDatabase], InvalidOperationException
+ FullyQualifiedErrorId : 77F8CDDB,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemCon
figurationTasks.RemovePublicFolderDatabase
[PS] C:\Windows\system32>
++++++++++++++++++++
Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 13th, 2010 8:25pm
If you do a
Get-PublicFolderStatistics -Server <server>
for that server, what is returned?
August 13th, 2010 8:49pm
Hi AndyD_
I get this...
http://img.skitch.com/20100813-fbcsu11aerh25hity47wmbx2yj.png
Sorry I have been addicted to this skitch thingy since I found it last month. If it is better to post the text I can do that, too. :)++++++++++++++++++++
Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 13th, 2010 8:53pm
So you have to move/delete those.
Is the only Exchange server in the org?
August 13th, 2010 8:56pm
We want to kill this Exchange server, no data needed, last one (only one ever) on the network. I thought those commands at the type deleted all the stuff inside the public folder. :(
It used to say 22 something now says 20 something. Is there a way to force it to delete?++++++++++++++++++++
Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 13th, 2010 9:14pm
Can you open up EMC /Toolbox/Public Folders and browse to them and delete? Those are system folders.
Of course, since you dont need any Exchange data and dont care about it, you could always browse to the pf store via adsiedit.msc under the configuration container and simply delete it from there if all else fails.
August 13th, 2010 9:18pm
I was soooo excited, then this...
Uploaded with
plasq's Skitch!++++++++++++++++++++
Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 13th, 2010 9:25pm
That one you can leave as is. It shouldnt prevent you from removing Exchange.
August 13th, 2010 9:29pm
Andy I really do appreciate your fast response! Just saw your post.
The message above said that none of the 7 system folders could be removed. In the default public folders it is empty... what do you suggest?
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Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 13th, 2010 10:00pm
Still no delete :(
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plasq's Skitch!++++++++++++++++++++
Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
August 13th, 2010 10:09pm
Did you remove the other folders that you could? Listed here?
http://img.skitch.com/20100813-fbcsu11aerh25hity47wmbx2yj.png
What still shows using get-publicfolderstatistics?
But honestly, since you are removing Exchange forever from this org, and this the only server left ,you can delete the store via adsiedit.msc to quicken this.
CN=Configuration | CN=Services | CN=Microsoft Exchange | CN=<Organization Name> | CN=<Administrative Group> | CN=Servers | CN=Information Store | CN=<Storage Group Name> | right click on the CN=<Public Folder Store>, and choose delete
( assuming you have the required permissions)
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August 13th, 2010 10:13pm
I dont know where those folders are I guess. It still shows those 20. The toolbox thing only showed 7 system folders and no other folders and it would not let me delete any of those 7.
:( I like your ADSI suggestions. I will try opening that.++++++++++++++++++++
Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
August 13th, 2010 10:18pm
AndyD honey you are my hero!
Uploaded with
plasq's Skitch!++++++++++++++++++++
Jessica Moyer
Twitter @luv2geek
"Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant."
-Mitchell Kapor
"Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? "
-Al Boliska
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 13th, 2010 10:23pm