I am new to the forum so please bare with me if this is the wrong place to post this question! My friend has an Exchange 2007 Server on a Windows Server 2008 server and he has moved his email to Microsoft's hosting service. He is not doing all the Active Directory linking and stuff because he only has 18 employees and just wants to make things as simple as possible. So we are trying to uninstall this Exchange server altogether because he has been VERY naughty, crashing and such. The problem is the public folders database can not be removed, via the friendly user interface or the exchange command line thingy... These commands seem to work... Get-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> "\" -Recurse -ResultSize:Unlimited | Remove-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> -Recurse -ErrorAction:SilentlyContinue Get-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> "\Non_Ipm_Subtree" -Recurse -ResultSize:Unlimited | Remove-PublicFolder -Server <server containing the public folder database> -Recurse -ErrorAction:SilentlyContinue These worked, or at least there were no errors. But when I go to remove the public folder database it tells me there are still replicas. Boo Exchange 2007! I am still googling but thought I would ask the experts here...

Here is the error we get... http://img.skitch.com/20100813-terjrpm4jtwutf3x31f8e88t4x.png

U go to remove the repilcas as the link is suggested, or delete them. read the articles carefully. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927464 <---- To remove the last public folder store in an organization, run the following command.Important See the cautionary note at the beginning of the "Remove the Exchange Server 2007 Mailbox server role" section before you remove the last public folder store in an organization. Get-PublicFolderDatabase | Remove-PublicFolderDatabase -RemoveLastAllowed http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2007/07/09/445967.aspx http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb123893(EXCHG.80).aspx All the best

Hey ZarkoC, thanks for your links... So... there isnt anywhere to move the public folders too. I thought the delete commands I was running would wipe them out. (the ones above) When I run that command in the Exchange Shell thingy I get this error below... It tells me to run those commands (the ones above that I ran). Exchange is so drama and complicated! LOL! I know they are trying to keep people from deleting stuff, at least I think.. [PS] C:\Windows\system32>Get-PublicFolderDatabase | Remove-PublicFolderDatabase -RemoveLastAllowed Remove-PublicFolderDatabase : The public folder database "CORPORATE\Second Stor age Group\Public Folder Database" contains folder replicas. Before deleting the public folder database, remove the folders or move the replicas to another pub lic folder database. For detailed instructions about how to remove a public fol der database, see http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=81409. At line:1 char:55 + Get-PublicFolderDatabase | Remove-PublicFolderDatabase <<<< -RemoveLastAllow ed + CategoryInfo : InvalidOperation: (CORPORATE\Secon...Folder Data base:ADObjectId) [Remove-PublicFolderDatabase], InvalidOperationException + FullyQualifiedErrorId : 77F8CDDB,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.SystemCon figurationTasks.RemovePublicFolderDatabase [PS] C:\Windows\system32> ++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska

If you do a Get-PublicFolderStatistics -Server <server> for that server, what is returned?

Hi AndyD_ I get this... http://img.skitch.com/20100813-fbcsu11aerh25hity47wmbx2yj.png Sorry I have been addicted to this skitch thingy since I found it last month. If it is better to post the text I can do that, too. :)++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska

So you have to move/delete those. Is the only Exchange server in the org?

We want to kill this Exchange server, no data needed, last one (only one ever) on the network. I thought those commands at the type deleted all the stuff inside the public folder. :( It used to say 22 something now says 20 something. Is there a way to force it to delete?++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska

Can you open up EMC /Toolbox/Public Folders and browse to them and delete? Those are system folders. Of course, since you dont need any Exchange data and dont care about it, you could always browse to the pf store via adsiedit.msc under the configuration container and simply delete it from there if all else fails.

I was soooo excited, then this... Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska

That one you can leave as is. It shouldnt prevent you from removing Exchange.

Andy I really do appreciate your fast response! Just saw your post. The message above said that none of the 7 system folders could be removed. In the default public folders it is empty... what do you suggest? Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska

Still no delete :( Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska

Did you remove the other folders that you could? Listed here? http://img.skitch.com/20100813-fbcsu11aerh25hity47wmbx2yj.png What still shows using get-publicfolderstatistics? But honestly, since you are removing Exchange forever from this org, and this the only server left ,you can delete the store via adsiedit.msc to quicken this. CN=Configuration | CN=Services | CN=Microsoft Exchange | CN=<Organization Name> | CN=<Administrative Group> | CN=Servers | CN=Information Store | CN=<Storage Group Name> | right click on the CN=<Public Folder Store>, and choose delete ( assuming you have the required permissions)

I dont know where those folders are I guess. It still shows those 20. The toolbox thing only showed 7 system folders and no other folders and it would not let me delete any of those 7. :( I like your ADSI suggestions. I will try opening that.++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska

AndyD honey you are my hero! Uploaded with plasq's Skitch!++++++++++++++++++++ Jessica Moyer Twitter @luv2geek "Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." -Mitchell Kapor "Do you realize if it weren't for Edison we'd be watching TV by candlelight? " -Al Boliska