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 Friday, March 27, 2015 10:06 AM

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 Friday, March 27, 2015 10:19 AM

Hi,

Yes, when you disable an mailbox, it means that removing this object's Exchange attributes from Active Directory, then the state is disconnected. When you disable an mailbox, the AD account shouldn't be deleted, it just removes that object's Exchange attributes from AD.

Hope my clarification can be helpful to you.

Best regards,

Hi Amy Thank you for your time and knowledge for clairifying that point. Would you know the answer to the other queries I had above? If you (or someone) could just copy and paste the 4 or 5 short queries into their reply and then put the answer below each question, I'm sure it would help a lot of people looking at this in future (and myself) to see those questions answered all in the one block. Thank you once again. NEOband

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

1. Disable and disconnect should be hte same thing.
2. Yes, if you disable the mailbox (removes Exchange attributes from the AD Account) it will disappear out of the list of recipients in the ECP.
3. Yes it should disappear from the GAL.  
4. The AD Account will remain until it is deleted from AD (assuming you use disable-mailbox and not remove-mailbox)
5. yes.

Hi,

Any update?

Best regards,