I was hoping someone can help. A while ago, someone in my company added an Exchange 2007 server to a test domain of ours to see how it works. However, they have since left the company and someone else has since rebuilt the server for a completely different role. Now, I've been tasked with introducing an Exchange 2010 server into this same domain. Is there some way I can tidy up AD, possibly even remove the Exchange 2007 server from AD before I add a new Exchange 2010 server? There are no other exchange servers in this domain. I've read that using ADSI edit to remove the Exchange 2007 server from "CN=Configuration, DC= Domain_Name ,DC=com, CN=Services, CN=Microsoft Exchange, CN= <Organization_Name>, CN=Administrative Groups, CN= Exchange Administrative Group (AGname), CN=Servers, CN=<Server Name>" would help but, as this Exchange 2007 server was the 1st Exchange server in the domain, are there any other procedures/steps to follow to ensure there are no issues when I add a Exchange 2010 server? Or to avoid issues after I've added an Exchange 2010 server? I'd appreciate any advice.

If you really want to do this cleanly, resinstall that server using the /recoverswitch ( assuming nothing has been removed from AD) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123496(EXCHG.80).aspx Then remove it gracefully running the setup program. Removing 2007 manually and clearing out attributes is not supported. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123893(EXCHG.80).aspx

Thanks Andy, Those links were very helpful. Recovery worked fine but I am, however, stuck on the uninstall. The readiness check fails on the following: "Error: Uninstall cannot continue. Database 'Public FOlder Database': The public folder database "SERVERNAME\Second Storage Group\Public Folder Database" contains the following Offline Address Book(s): \Default Offline Address Book Before deleting the public folder database, move the offline address book(s) to a web-based distribution point." I don't need the offline address book so how do I remove it in order to fully uninstall Exchange Server? Appreciate any help with this last bit.

You can delete the OAB: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124744(EXCHG.80).aspx Tim Harrington - Catapult Systems - http://HowDoUC.blogspot.com

Thanks for your help. I used http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd876883.aspx and followed some of the links from that page. I've managed to run through the uninstall all OK now. There are no Exchange servers listed within AD now which is good. I do have one issue left. I can't uninstall the Exchange management Tools from the server itself. Every time I run Uninstall for Exchange Server from 'Programs and Features', Management Tools is greyed out so I cannot uncheck it to uninstall all of Exchange from this server. I've tried running setup /m:uninstall /role:ManagementTools from the command prompt but it states "Exchange Server setup encountered an error". I've checked the ExchangeSetup text doc in the ExchangeSetupLogs folder but there is no indiation of what the error is. Anyone have a suggestion of how to remove the remains of Exchange from the server?

The Management tools should not have any hooks into AD. If you really want to uninstall the MT's, then try rebooting the server and then trying the uninstall again. Tim Harrington - Catapult Systems - http://HowDoUC.blogspot.com

Thanks for quick response Tim. I had already rebooted but still no success with removing Managment tools. In the end I ran the setup and told it to install the tools. Afterwards, I was able to uninstall the tools and now the whole of Exchange has been uninstalled from the server. However, this has re-populated AD with the various Exchange Security Groups. As Exchange 2010 will be added shortly, am I correct in thinking these won't be a concern after any ADpreps that need to be run to install Exchange 2010?

You will be fine. When you prep the domain/schema for 2010 everything will bo ok. If you want to check "readiness" for 2010, you can run the pre-deployment analyzer. It will tell you if anything is out of sorts. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=88b304e7-9912-4cb0-8ead-7479dab1abf2&displaylang=enTim Harrington - Catapult Systems - http://HowDoUC.blogspot.com

Thats good to know. Thanks for your help & advice Tim and thanks to Andy for pointing out original articles