Alias is not valid for distribution groups imported from Exchange 2003
Hello, I am having an issue with my Distribution groups that have been imported from exchange 2003. On many of my groups when I go into properties I get the following message: The properties on 'FHS Cafeteria' have invalid data. If you click OK, default values will be used instead and will be saved if you do not change them before hitting Apply or OK on the property page. If you click cancel, the object will be displayed read-only and corrupted vales will be retained. The following values have invalid data: Alias. Inaddition if I try to click on one of the tabs on the properties page I get the following: "FHS Cafeteria" is valid for Alias. Valid values are: ....... From what I read on the web I understand this to be because of the spaces that were allowed in the Alias in 2003 but are Not allowed in 2007. I cannot find anything that will fix this issue so far I have tried this article: How to Remove Spaces From Recipient Aliases by Using the Exchange Management Shell http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb851499.aspx to no avail. I still get the errors, I did customize that article for Distribution groups instead of Recipient's as in the article. Has anyone had this issue?? TIA Jason
October 15th, 2007 10:05pm

Did you verify DC replication? Deli
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October 16th, 2007 1:16am

Yes. I have two DC's and they are replicating fine. Any other suggestions??
October 23rd, 2007 5:52pm

Try to do this for one entry and then check your Active Directory object with ADSIEDIT.MSC Verify that the change has occured and maybe verify after one hour to see if change is still there. Do you still have an Exchange 2003 Server in your organization? Deli
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October 23rd, 2007 6:19pm

I will try what you suggested. No I do not have an existing exchange 2003 server in my organization. BUT some info that might help: We had a major flood and lost our exchange 2003 server but did not lose my A/D Forest. I ended up just installing Exchange 2007 into the A/D Forest. Everything is working fine but I did just notice there was some old references in ADSI to the old exchange 2003 server. These I just removed. They were located under the Administrative Groups, Microsoft Exchange, Services, Configuration container. Ever since I got exchange up and running after the Flood I have been getting these errors and have strange things occuring like my post just with the Distribution Groups. TIA Jason
October 23rd, 2007 6:54pm

UPDATE on ISSUE: In addition to the errors above, I am also seeing pre-2007 distribution groups when i search the GAL with Outlook. The icons have the two person head with a gear icon and when I do properties it looks much different than the newer 2007 distribution groups. I want to remove these groups but they do not exist when I look at my Exchange Management Console or Active Directory, its like they are trapped inside the GAL somewhere.... Jason
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October 23rd, 2007 10:10pm

You should check if that group is a global group in AD You should only use Universal Groups in Exchange 2007 More info on this topic here: http://www.pro-exchange.be/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=299 Deli
October 24th, 2007 12:48am

I fixed this by using adsiedit.exe andremoved invalid characters fromthe group's 'mailNickname.' -Dane
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December 22nd, 2007 2:44am

This link does point you in the right direction......I used it and it resolved the issue with the aliases having spaces in them. Took me all of five minutes to complete! How to Remove Spaces From Recipient Aliases by Using the Exchange Management Shell http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb851499.aspxD. Williams
January 17th, 2008 7:33pm

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