Hi

Thanks in advance for your time.

I note that deleting a mailbox from the Exchange 2013 GUI will also delete the associated Active Directory Account. This is different from Exchange 2010.

I used this MS article for reference. https://technet.microsoft.com/en-GB/library/jj863440(v=exchg.150).aspx

I want to delete a mailbox but NOT delete the associated Active Directory Account.

The document refers to disconnecting the mailbox and then it is purged from the Exchnage Database but did not state if it would or would not then delete the Active directory account.

I am happy to disconnect it, but I fear the user account will disappear 30 days later.

Can anyone clarify how to delete the mailbox there and then but keep the user account and also clarify if the user account will remain after 30 days if I was to simply disconnect the mailbox.

Thank you

• Edited by NEOband 21 hours 20 minutes ago

Right click the user in EMC and choose disable. When you choose disable it detaches the mailbox from the AD user. If you choose remove, it deletes the AD user and mailbox.

Run this cmdlet -  disable-mailbox NeoBand

Use the Disable-Mailbox cmdlet to disable the mailbox of an existing user or InetOrgPerson and remove that object's Exchange attributes from the Active Directory directory service. The user account associated with the mailbox will remain in Active Directory but will no longer be associated with a mailbox.

Hi Blake

Thanks for your help. I really appreciate it.

I was following until I got to "InetOrgPerson and remove that object's Exchange attributes from the Active Directory directory service" , then you lost me.

Is disable, is that the same as disconnect?

Will it disappear from the list of mailbox's in Exchange Control panel? Or visibly remain there in a disabled state?

Will it then eventually disappear from the GAL?

After 30 days when the mailbox is automatically purged, will the active directory account remain?

If I then for whatever reason decide to reconnect the mailbox within 30 days can I do it in the GUI?

Sorry for all the questions but it would really help me (and hopefully others) to have clarity on these questions.

NEOband

• Edited by NEOband 21 hours 7 minutes ago