I am currently running a 2003 exchange server on windows 2003 32bit. I want to upgrade to exchange 2007 but as I understand it only comes in a 64 bit version, meaning I will have to upgrade to windows 2003 64 bit first correct? What is the easiest way to change from 32bit to 64bit windows 2003 without losing any of my exchange mail or public folders?

Hello, Yes Exchange 2007 is completely64bit and can be installed onlyon 64 bit operating System. Theeasiest way to achieveyour goalwithout loosing any of yourmails and public folder is Transition.When transitioning to Exchange2007, you cannot perform an in-place server upgrade on an existing Exchange server. Instead, you must install a new Exchange2007server into the existing organization, and then move data to the new Exchange2007server. http://www.microsoft.com/exchange/evaluation/topquestions.mspx?wt.svl=overview http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124008.aspx Please see the link below which showsstep bystep screen shotted document on transition. http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Transitioning-Exchange-2000-2003-Exchange-Server-2007-Part1.html http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Transitioning-Exchange-2000-2003-Exchange-Server-2007-Part2.html http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Transitioning-Exchange-2000-2003-Exchange-Server-2007-Part3.html Thanks and Hope You Understand Syed Khairuddin

You won't be able to perform an in-place upgrade using your existing server. One option would be to implement a new (64-bit) Server, install Exchange 2007 Server into the existing Exchange org, migrate mailboxes and public folders and then decommission the Exchange 2003 server. There is a wealth of documentation covering upgrade and coexistence on the Microsoft web site. Here's a good starting point.http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb124920.aspxAlso consider whether Windows Server 2008 would be a better option for your new server. Exchange Server 2007 SP1 is supported on Windows Server 2008 (64-bit).Tonywww.activedir.orgBlog: www.open-a-socket.com

I also have a file server running windows 2003 32bit which is also our domain controller. Would upgrading my exchange box to server 2008 effect that in anyway? Also if I run a clean install of windows 64bit can I just do a restore of my exchange mailboxes from the old 32bit setup?

New windows 2008 server for exchange 2007 will be a member server, it dont influent to windows 2003 DC. You cannot simply restore 32bit exchange data to 64bit exchange server, it requires move mailbox task Reason: It is unsupported to restore 32bit exchange data to 64bit exchange and vice versa, because the data was packed by 32bit code and it can only be parsed by 32bit code. If we try to do such procedure, an incompatibility in the database versions will cause a bad data read from disk, and make exchange services crash, like Information Store service.