We're running a 2003/2007 mixed Exchange environment. Basically all the mailboxes have been moved and we're almost ready to uninstall all the old 2003 Exch servers. I decided to start by uninstalling the old 2003 Front-End server, which is of no use anymore since all front-end-like functions are now running on E2007.So I go into Add/Remove Programs and tell it to Remove the entire Exchange product. It seems to start but errors on the first step with Event ID 1002, Exch Mesaging and Collaboration Services Failed. It continues to uninstall but all subsequent component fail with a similar error, after which you basically have to cancel the uninstall and you're back at square 1.Almost seems like I'm overlooking something. But what ?I could just kill the Front-end machine and manually remove the server within E2003 management, but this is not the nicest way to do it. Only used for when the box physically died.

Anyone ?

what is the exact error you are getting when the uninstall fails? do you have any mailboxes of PF replicas on the FE server?can you also paste the exchange setup logs from the uninstallhere..

Hi, In addition to setup log, please also post the entire Event 1002 for further research. ThanksMike

Here's the first error in the app log when I do the uninstall. After that there's 4 more errors for Forest Prep fail, Domain Prep fail, Sysman tools fail and Exchange server component fails. Basically every step in the uninstall fails, with an error for each step in the log.Don't ask me why it wants to do a domain/forest prep on an Uninstall ???? But then again, that's not the first error, this is: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Event Type:ErrorEvent Source:MSExchangeSetupEvent Category:Microsoft Exchange Setup Event ID:1002Date:6-11-2009Time:12:24:31User:N/AComputer:GDEFE2Description:Exchange Server component Microsoft Exchange Messaging and Collaboration Services failed. Error: 0xc107041d - 0xc007041d - The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion. (EXIFS) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Strange thing is that there is no EXIFS service in the service list.If I do another uninstall right after the 1st try, it doesn't need to stop any services since they already are stopped. The error is the same though. But there is no error in the log on this 2nd attempt for the EXIFS service.It's replaced by this error, which is practically the same.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Event Type:ErrorEvent Source:MSExchangeSetupEvent Category:Microsoft Exchange Setup Event ID:1002Date:6-11-2009Time:12:59:15User:N/AComputer:GDEFE2Description:Exchange Server component Microsoft Exchange Messaging and Collaboration Services failed. Error: 0x8000ffff - An unexpected error occurred. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi, Thanks for your response. I would like to explain that the EXIFS is a hidden service that you will not see it in the services snap-in. However, it is possible to stop and start the service using Net Stop/Start IFS command. I would like to explain that the issue mostly related to Antivirus software installed on the Exchange server. I suggest you disable the Anti-virus software on the Exchange server to check whether the issue persists. If the issue persists, please following steps below: Changed the following registrys: HkeyLocal machine>system>current control set >services >EXIFS > Start, changed value to 3 HkeyLocal machine>system>current control set >services >EXIFS > Type , changed value to 3 (Default is 2 Automatic and 4 is for Disable the service). After that, please restart Exchange Server and attempt to uninstall Exchange again. Thanks, Mike

Disabling McAfee antivirus worked for me as I was unable to remove exchange prior.