Ok, here is what I have. I have an AD forest (We'll say "OldForest") with an Exchange 2007 server and 6 mailboxes on it. We are decommissioning the OldForest and moving Exchange 2007 mailboxes to a new AD forest ("NewForest"). Exchange 2007 server will be re-purposed to serve Exchange on NewForest but they want to wipe out the existing instance of Exchange 2007 and reinstall it. We are reinstalling on the same hardware. (This is for security) What is the best way to do this? What I am planning to do is shut down Exchange and take a copy of the database files. Then once the server has been reinstalled with Exchange 2007 on the NewForest, moving the database files back and attaching them to the Store. I am concerned that Exchange won't except the database files because they will probably still have tags from the OldForest. The 6 mailboxes are expected to be re-attached to the same 6 users but on the NewForest. Is this what I want to do or is there another way? Please note that we do not have a way to run the old Exchange instance along side a new Exchange instance so we can't do a move from the Exchange Console.Owner, Quilnet Solutions

Oh and in case it matters, we are only concerned about the mailboxes. We don't need to move the public folder or anything else. We just need the users emails to be available the next day.Owner, Quilnet Solutions

It is highly unlikely that your plan will work. The Exchange database is very sensitive to the Exchange org, domain name and server name. While you can make changes to the setup to get it to work, it is only something I would do in a recovery scenario. Your best option is to extract the content to PST files using export-mailbox and then import them in to the new installation. Then ensure that you have the correct X.500 addresses as per this article: http://blogs.technet.com/sbs/archive/2009/05/21/cannot-reply-to-old-emails-or-modify-old-calendar-items-after-pst-mail-migration.aspx Simon.Simon Butler, Exchange MVP Blog | Exchange Resources

Ok, so I am gonna have to do the export then. Sounds good. Will I not need the database files then once I export everything? (just the PST)Owner, Quilnet Solutions

Hi, You can't use the database files between the Orgs, so just keep the backup for a while :) Remember to write down/export all smtp proxyaddresses as well as the x.500 addresses that Simon already told you about. When you have it all in place the Export/Import mailbox with PST files should work just fine. /MartinExchange is a passion not just a collaboration software.

Sweet action! I appreciate it. Thanks guys.Owner, Quilnet Solutions