Hi everyone, Few days back our Exchange server crashed so I decided to install Exchange on a separate machine. Now, I am looking for a way to remount .edb and .stm files to exchange so I can have all mailboxes restored. I have read so many KB articles about using Eseutil and ISINTEG, but the make me more confused. I don't know where to start with. Thank you so much,

Alex,First of all give us some more information such as which Exchange version, how did you install the new machine (using the /recoverserver switch for example).Regards,JohanExchange-blog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

Hi Johan, It's Exchange 2003 and I installed as a fresh installation.

Hi Alex,Have you installed the exchange server in the same organization as another server? If so, you will be able to repair the database and mount them.If the organization name, administrative group name is different, you will not be able to mount them.Considering that the names are correct, we need to do the following:> Run eseutil /mh <drive letter>\database.edb for both mailbox DB and PF DB. If the DB's are in "Clean shutdown" it is mountable.If the databases are in "Dirty shutdown", we need to run hard repair on the database.1. Run eseutil /p <drive letter>\database.edb.2. Run eseutil /d <drive letter>\database.edb. Note: This requires 110% of free space.3. Run isinteg -s "SERVERNAME" -fix -test alltests.- Nagesh

Nagesh, The administrative group is called "First Administrative Group". where can I find the organization name? What should I do after doing the steps above? How should I mount it? Thank you,

Hi,It's the name on which is in the upper left corner when opening the managent tool.Regards,JohanExchange-blog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

I didn't choose a name during the installation so I guess it picked up the correct name by itself. While running "isinteg -s "SERVERNAME" -fix -test alltests", I'm being asked to choose a Storage Group. I can not see my Storage Group. How should I add my .edb file to this list?

Alex,Start with running Eseutil what's the result of this ?Regards,JohanExchange-blog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

I don't have the output results for eseutil /p now, but it went through some steps and it repaired the database. Here is the result for eseutil /d : Initiating DEFRAGMENTATION mode... Database: e:\Mailboxes\priv1.edb Streaming File: e:\Mailboxes\priv1.STM Temp. Database: TEMPDFRG7252.EDB Temp. Streaming File: TEMPDFRG7252.STM Defragmentation Status (% complete) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 |----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----|----| ................................................... Moving 'TEMPDFRG7252.EDB' to 'e:\Mailboxes\priv1.edb'... DONE! Moving 'TEMPDFRG7252.STM' to 'e:\Mailboxes\priv1.stm'... DONE! Note: It is recommended that you immediately perform a full backup of this database. If you restore a backup made before the defragmentation, the database will be rolled back to the state it was in at the time of that backup. Operation completed successfully in 4.0 seconds.

Hi,How did you restore the database ?Regards,JohanExchange-blog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

Ok. We needed to mount the database after defragmentation.Once it is mounted, dismount it immediately and run isinteg.You will be able to see the storage group now.In this situation, you need to give the new server name and choose the store. Typically in your scenario, it should be option "1".- Nagesh

This one is good :). Good to go with ISINTEG process as mentioned in the above reply.- Nagesh

How should I mount it?

I haven't restore the database yet. That's my goal. I just copied the Exchange database folder to this new server and now I'm trying to mount the .edb file.

Alex,Just open the ESM and select the first administrative groups expand it to the database level (can be found below first storage group), right click the database and select mount database. If the mount fails check the event logs and post the event logged.Regards,Johan Exchange-blog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

My database is not in the list! How should I bring it there?

Alex,Start reading this article and follow the steps mentioned in the article, this since you propably have choosen another name etc. when installing the new server:http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/Restoring-Exchange-Server2003-Alternate-Hardware.htmlRegards,JohanExchange-blog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

If you mean "Server Name" by name, I should say yes. I had one server up and running, so I just installed a new Exchange Server. Can I still add my database to the list? Can I create a Storage Group and Mail Store and force it to load my database by naming the files?

Alex,No in Exchange 2003 this is not possible the steps mentioned on the earlier site must be used.Regards,JohanExchange-blog: www.johanveldhuis.nl

Thank you. That's what I needed to know.