Exchange 2007 is failing to install it reaches the organization prep stage and fails during the import AD Schema. I get the following error: Organization PreparationFailed Error:An error occurred when executing 'ldifde.exe' to import schema file 'D:\Setup\ServerRoles\Common\Setup\Data\PostExchange2000_schema68.ldf'. Error code: 8207. More details can be found in the error file 'C:\Users\administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\2\ldif.err'. the ldif.err file contains: Entry DN: CN=ms-Exch-Smtp-Receive-Connector,CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=<DOMAIN>,DC=<DOMAIN>,DC=orgAdd error on entry starting on line 189: Unavailable An error has occurred in the program My primary DC is a 2003 Server SP2. The current exchange server is Server 2000 SP4 with Exchange 2000 SP3.

Have a look at the following article which describes how to install Exchange 2007 SP1 on a Windows 2008 server. Regards, Johan

Oooppps, I think you left out the articles.... Here are some good ones. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb691354.aspx http://www.exchangeinbox.com/article.aspx?i=111 http://www.msexchange.org/articles_tutorials/exchange-server-2007/migration-deployment/installing-exchange-2007-windows-server-2008.html

I've already done the first one. The second link mentions running dcpromo. Just for fun I tried to run dcpromo. I get to a point and it denies access for the administrator account and doesn't recognize my domain admin account. I had alredy prepared AD for 2008. I'm totally confused now.

I was able to finallyinstallActive Directory.I went back to run setup /PrepareSchema and it failed.I get the following error after it gets at about 70%: Welcome to Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Unattended Setup Preparing Exchange Setup No server roles will be installed Performing Microsoft Exchange Server Prerequisite Check Organization Checks ......................... COMPLETEDThe Active Directory schema will be upgraded if you continue. Verify that the organization is ready for Exchange 2007 by running the Exchange 2007 Readiness Check, which is part of the Exchange Best Practices Analyzer. Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server Extending Active Directory schema Progress ......................... FAILED An error occurred when executing 'ldifde.exe' to import schema file 'D:\Setup\ServerRoles\Common\Setup\Data\PostExchange2000_schema68.ldf'. Error code: 8207. More details can be found in the error file 'C:\Users\administrator\AppData\Local\Temp\4\ldif.err'. The Exchange Server Setup operation did not complete. For more information, visit http://support.microsoft.com and enter the Error ID. Exchange Server setup encountered an error. Here's the ldif.err: Entry DN: CN=ms-Exch-Smtp-Receive-Connector,CN=Schema,CN=Configuration,DC=mydomain,DC=mydomain,DC=orgAdd error on entry starting on line 189: Unavailable An error has occurred in the program

You can run setup /prepareschema on either a 32-bit or a 64-bit computer that is in the same domain and the same ActiveDirectory site as the schema master so if you have any other server with Windows 2003 SP2 then try to run setup /prepareschema and see the result. At least we can assure that, this is not windows 2008 issue and some other or permission. Reference : How to Prepare Active Directory and Domains

This has been the worst install I've had to do. I did what you mentioned. Since the current Exchange 2007 SP1 is 64 bit and my DC is a 32bit 2003 SP2, I used the Trial version which is 32bit. I was then able to run the setup /prepareschema and /prepareAD. I did have problems installing the Roles, but it eventually cooperated. Thanks for the help. Now I get to migrate the mailboxes over and retire the old Exchange server. Yippie!