Hi everyone, I've been having some issues since the moment I began installing Exchange Server 2003 for the first time on my server. I installed it for the first time on a Windows Server 2003 SP2. On my internal Network I had another mail server, that is no longer physically hooked up in the network, somehow at the time of Exchange installation, the network still recognized the old server that wasn't hooked up, anyways, after this I could see both of the mail servers on the System Manager window, but when I tried to do the Internet Mail Wizard to configure the Inbound and Outbound Mail, didn't let me configure them on the new server. After a lot of times trying to get it configured, decided to delete the servers from the Exchange System Manager, de-install Exchange Server completelly and then Install it again. So I did, everything went good, until I opened the System Manager Window and the server is not being recognized by it, so I can not do anything else. Is there a way to add manually the server on System Manager or how can I get it to work? Appreciate any help.

Hi, When you installed the server the last time are you sure that the messaging and collaboration service was selected? Leif

What state is your mail server in now? Do you have any email working? Do you have any LIVE email servers? How many servers do you have? Sukh

Hi Leif, Yes, it was selected. Probably something got screwed up with the ForestPrep. PanchoGreetings

Hi Sukh, Exchange is installed on the Windows Server 2003, and this is the only server that I want as an email server. I have a Boss server that is running as my Domain Controller, and more servers in the network dedicated to other stuff. So this email server would be running as a member server of the Domain Controller. I do not have any email working because the Configuration is not complete. Below there is a screen shot of what the Exchange System Manager looks like. I should be able to see my Mail Server but I don't. I hope this helps. Thanks, Pancho Greetings

Are you logging on the server directly and using esm? Has the account got right (Exch admin rights)?Sukh

Yes, I'm logging on the server directly and the account has Exchange Admin rights. Do you think that when I deleted the email server from System Manager is what is causing troubles? But what I don't understand still is the fact that after I installed Exchange again, it didn't recognize the server in which is installed.

Did you uninstall Exch gracefully via add/remove programs? If there is not data thats needed and you can start fresh I would remov Exch or remove completly then start again http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125110(EXCHG.65).aspx / http://support.microsoft.com/kb/833396 / http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/remove-exchange-server-entire-exchange-organization.html Are there any Exchange services installed? Before removing you can run the ExchBPA 1st and see what that comes back with.Sukh

When I uninstall Exch was via add/remove programs and it linked me to the Exchange Installation Wizard and then it got removed perfectly. Before this I had to make sure that Exchange services were killed (stopped). Is ExchBPA an Exchange Analizer and where can I download it? The installed services are these:

Can you start all them services and test. ExchBPA - http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=22485Sukh

Well, I tried to run the ExBPA and couldn't even connect to the Active Directory. I've been trying to de-install Exchange, following the steps on the links you sent me, and a warning message appeared. So now I just do not know what to do, if I can not remove/reinstall Exchange :( When I tried to reinstall and went through the steps again, at the ForestPrep Setup, I have another message that says: *** The component "Microsoft Exchange Forest Preparation" cannot be assigned the action "ForestPrep" because: To install the first Exchange server in a domain, or to run setup in "/ForestPrep" mode, you must be an Exchange Full Administrator at the organization level. You must use an account that has been granted the Full Administrator role on the Exchange organization using the Exchange Administrative Delegation Wizard. ***

And actually checked more than three times that the account I'm using to log in the server has Full permits for Exchange

Is that account a member ent/domain admins too?Sukh

It is a member of Enterprise and Domain Admins, and Schema Admins too. I appreciate your help sir. Pancho

HI Maybe you can let this server leave your domain and re-add it by same name.

Hi Terence, So If I leave the domain do you think would help me to completely de-install Exchange? and if so, do I have to create another administrator account before leaving? I'm not sure that if the server leaves the domain I'll be able to get access to it... and if you have a link to share, with steps that I can follow, would be awesome! What else should I have to consider or check before leaving the domain? Thanks Pancho

Can you check if this server exists in AD Start ADSI Edit, and then browse to the following location: Domain.com/Configuration/Services/Microsoft Exchange/Org/Administrative Groups/AdminGroup/Servers/Server Name Seems like this box not able to talk to AD.Remove this from Domain and join it back (Make sure you have local Admin Password before you do that)Jasjit Singh Dhindsa | ITIL v3 | IASA Foundation Certified | MCITP:Exchange 2010 | Exchange 2007 | MCTS:OCS 2007 | Exchange 2010 | Exchange 2007 | MCSA:Messaging | Security | MCSE:Messaging | Security | MCP

If all fails, I would start to think about manually removing Exchaneg via ADSIEdit and either cleaning the registry or rebuld that server witha fresh install and start again.Sukh

I ran the ADSIedit and apparently according to what you wrote me, the files are not complete. I attached a screen shot for you to see. Is there something else I can do to Remove Exchange? I did check the Active Directory and saw the Mail Server on there.

To remove Exchange manually from ADSIedit, do I only delete the folder Domain.com/Configuration/Services/Microsoft Exchange or/and what else do I need to do?

For removing Exchange server manually follow this article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/260378. Although it says it applies to Exchange Server 2000 but i myself has used it for Exchange Server 2003 and works well. This article will clear the installation from the local server and for removing the traces of Exchange server from AD you can remove the entry Domain.com/Configuration/Services/Microsoft Exchange and start fresh. (Although this server doesnot show in AD at all but it will remove all traces of Exchange from you infrastructure)Jasjit Singh Dhindsa | ITIL v3 | IASA Foundation Certified | MCITP:Exchange 2010 | Exchange 2007 | MCTS:OCS 2007 | Exchange 2010 | Exchange 2007 | MCSA:Messaging | Security | MCSE:Messaging | Security | MCP

that's pretty much it, however if the install still fails, rebuild the server with a fresh install. Remove object from AD too.Sukh

I have already uninstall Exchange via ADSIedit.msc (by just removing Domain.com/Configuration/Services/Microsoft Exchange folder) about three times. And via Add or Remove Programs from Windows, for more than 5 times... on each time there is something that doesn't go away, because whenever I try to install Exchange again, on the Installation Wizard the "Messaging and Collaboration Services" line is checked and cannot either re-install or remove. Is there something that I-m not doing right, or how do you know a way to get rid off the Messaging and Collaboration Services, so I can begin from a fresh start Installing Exchange. I really don't want to rebuild Windows Server 2003... unless is necessary. Pancho

Are you renaming the Exchsrvr folder as well ?Jasjit Singh Dhindsa | ITIL v3 | IASA Foundation Certified | MCITP:Exchange 2010 | Exchange 2007 | MCTS:OCS 2007 | Exchange 2010 | Exchange 2007 | MCSA:Messaging | Security | MCSE:Messaging | Security

I renamed the Exchsrvr folder and still don't have a server to choose on the wizard. This is weird, there should be a way to do it. I have learned a lot from this, but not quite sure that I'll solve it quicker :( Still can't get the Messaging and Collaboration Services line unistalled... I remember when I started the first time, I had the chance to configure it, but not anymore. Any other ideas?Pancho

Try the removeorg switch - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/273478Sukh

Try the removeorg switch - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/273478Sukh