hello anyone who will listen: I'm currently trying to work on a friend's environment, where whoever installed the SBS originally, created 12GB & 68GB partitions. No big deal, but over years of changes, and program installes, etc, the client has plenty of apps instaled on multiple partitions,etc. W/ his C drive full now (patches), I've ordered a pair of 300GB SATA drives to replace the 80's that he has. They're mirrored, obviously... To fix his "misconfigurations over the years", I've installed a fresh copy of SBS, and thought I could get away w/ dismounting, and putting the old mdbdata folder in pace of the fresh one.... HELP/ideas appreciated, laughs - not so much... (-: Thanks a TON in advance, Jason Williamson

Hi Jason, The above method would only work in a scenario where you haveinstalled the new instance of exchange into the same A/D & Exchange Organization with the exact same server name& used the /disasterrecovery switch. If this is not the case then you could possibly mount them to a Recovery Storage Group & extract the data into PST then import into live databases using exmerge. Alternatively, before switching hard drives, take a full backup of the server's System State data, Program Files & Exchange Information Stores to tape, install the new SBS with the exact same name & patch it to match the old server patch levels (DO NOT FORGET IE versions MUST BE THE SAME). You can then install your backup software, restart into DS Restore mode & restore System State to put AD back on the server. with AD back on the server you can install exchange using the /DR switch, copy the EDBs in to the correct location & mount them. Check out my blog for some further tips how to do this...

Johan, what is the URL to your Blog?

Jason, its in my signature... blog.sortedit.net

Johan, I tried using EXMERGE< but an getting errors when running it. Ive used it before, hav ethe executable in the BIN directory, and get an error. Would you be willing to look @ the pic & log filr I put on the web server?http://www.hendersonassoc.com/images/error.jpgLog is in my nextreply below...This client wants to move the server to AZ on Sunday... I'm pretty much screwed up against a wall here... If you need to speak w/ me, please email me for my phone #. discgolferjw@yahoo.comThx

****************************************************************Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Merge Program, v6.5.7529.0Start Logging:June 01, 2007 23:26:16****************************************************************[23:26:16] Logging Level: None[23:26:16] Reading settings from file 'C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\bin\EXMERGE.INI'.[23:26:16] Reading list of subjects for messages to be selected from file ''[23:26:16] Reading list of attachment names for messages to be selected from file ''[23:26:16] List of folders to be ignored has been read. 0 folders in the list.[23:26:16] Current machine locale ID is 0x409[23:26:16] Operating System Version 5.2 (Build 3790)[23:26:28] Accessing Domain Controller 'WK23-SBS'[23:26:28] 'WK23-SBS' is running Exchange Server 2000 or later[23:26:28] Mailbox '/o=First Organization/ou=first administrative group/cn=Configuration/cn=Servers/cn=WK23-SBS/cn=Microsoft System Attendant' will be ignored as its DN contains strings in the ignore list[23:26:28] Mailbox '/o=First Organization/ou=first administrative group/cn=Configuration/cn=Connections/cn=SMTP (WK23-SBS)/cn={933E2AFF-78ED-4F8A-9437-C917B64E045B}' will be ignored as its DN contains strings in the ignore list[23:26:28] Mailbox '/o=First Organization/ou=first administrative group/cn=Recipients/cn=SystemMailbox{933E2AFF-78ED-4F8A-9437-C917B64E045B}' will be ignored as its DN contains strings in the ignore list[23:26:29] Found 15 mailbox(es) homed on database 'FIRST STORAGE GROUP/MAILBOX STORE (WK23-SBS)'.[23:26:29] Ignored 3 mailbox(es) homed on database 'FIRST STORAGE GROUP/MAILBOX STORE (WK23-SBS)'.[23:26:29] Found 15 mailbox(es) homed on the specified databases.[23:26:29] Ignored 3 mailbox(es) homed on the specified databases.[23:26:41] Using attribute 'PR_MESSAGE_DELIVERY_TIME' for date operations.[23:26:41] Merging data into target store. The program will copy only those messages that do not exist in the target store.[23:26:41] Associated folder data will NOT be copied to the target store.[23:26:41] Using 'English (US)' (0x409) as the default locale (Code page 1252)[23:26:41] All mailboxes will be processed, regardless of locale[23:26:41] Using default locale for all mailboxes[23:26:42] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Administrator' ('ADMINISTRATOR') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\ADMINISTRATOR.PST'.[23:26:42] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'John Henderson' ('JHENDERSON') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\JHENDERSON.PST'.[23:26:42] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'John Henderson' ('JHENDERSON').[23:26:42] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:42] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Michael Wheeler' ('MWHEELER') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\MWHEELER.PST'.[23:26:42] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Michael Wheeler' ('MWHEELER').[23:26:42] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:42] (Thread0)Successfully completed copying mailbox 'Administrator' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\ADMINISTRATOR.PST'.[23:26:42] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Michelle Phillips' ('MPHILLIPS') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\MPHILLIPS.PST'.[23:26:42] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Becky Dawson' ('BDAWSON') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\BDAWSON.PST'.[23:26:42] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Michelle Phillips' ('MPHILLIPS').[23:26:42] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Sonya Serpas' ('SSERPAS') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\SSERPAS.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Becky Dawson' ('BDAWSON').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Bonnie Slater' ('BSLATER') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\BSLATER.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Sonya Serpas' ('SSERPAS').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'tape User' ('TAPE') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\TAPE.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Bonnie Slater' ('BSLATER').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Cindy Dolmage' ('CDOLMAGE') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\CDOLMAGE.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'tape User' ('TAPE').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Cindy Dolmage' ('CDOLMAGE').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Tori Henderson' ('THENDERSON') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\THENDERSON.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'David Dolmage' ('DDOLMAGE') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\DDOLMAGE.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Tori Henderson' ('THENDERSON').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Web Admin' ('WEBADMIN') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\WEBADMIN.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'David Dolmage' ('DDOLMAGE').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:26:43] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Jeff Dorn' ('JDORN') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\JDORN.PST'.[23:26:43] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Web Admin' ('WEBADMIN').[23:26:43] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:44] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Web Backup' ('WEBBACKUP') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\WEBBACKUP.PST'.[23:26:44] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Jeff Dorn' ('JDORN').[23:26:44] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:26:44] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Jenae Campbell' ('JCAMPBELL') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\JCAMPBELL.PST'.[23:26:44] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Web Backup' ('WEBBACKUP').[23:26:44] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:26:44] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Jenae Campbell' ('JCAMPBELL').[23:26:44] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:26:44] Number of items copied from the source store for all mailboxes processed: 0[23:26:44] Total number of folders processed in the source store: 12[23:26:44] 1 mailboxes successfully processed. 14 mailboxes were not successfully processed. 0 non-fatal errors encountered.[23:26:44] Process completion time: 0:00:00:02 ****************************************************************Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Merge Program, v6.5.7529.0Start Logging:June 01, 2007 23:26:53****************************************************************[23:26:53] Logging Level: None[23:26:53] Reading settings from file 'C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\bin\EXMERGE.INI'.[23:26:53] Reading list of subjects for messages to be selected from file ''[23:26:53] Reading list of attachment names for messages to be selected from file ''[23:26:53] List of folders to be ignored has been read. 0 folders in the list.[23:26:53] Current machine locale ID is 0x409[23:26:53] Operating System Version 5.2 (Build 3790)[23:26:58] Accessing Domain Controller 'WK23-SBS'[23:26:59] 'WK23-SBS' is running Exchange Server 2000 or later[23:26:59] Mailbox '/o=First Organization/ou=first administrative group/cn=Configuration/cn=Servers/cn=WK23-SBS/cn=Microsoft System Attendant' will be ignored as its DN contains strings in the ignore list[23:26:59] Mailbox '/o=First Organization/ou=first administrative group/cn=Configuration/cn=Connections/cn=SMTP (WK23-SBS)/cn={933E2AFF-78ED-4F8A-9437-C917B64E045B}' will be ignored as its DN contains strings in the ignore list[23:26:59] Mailbox '/o=First Organization/ou=first administrative group/cn=Recipients/cn=SystemMailbox{933E2AFF-78ED-4F8A-9437-C917B64E045B}' will be ignored as its DN contains strings in the ignore list[23:26:59] Found 15 mailbox(es) homed on database 'FIRST STORAGE GROUP/MAILBOX STORE (WK23-SBS)'.[23:26:59] Ignored 3 mailbox(es) homed on database 'FIRST STORAGE GROUP/MAILBOX STORE (WK23-SBS)'.[23:26:59] Found 15 mailbox(es) homed on the specified databases.[23:26:59] Ignored 3 mailbox(es) homed on the specified databases.[23:27:09] Using attribute 'PR_MESSAGE_DELIVERY_TIME' for date operations.[23:27:09] Merging data into target store. The program will copy only those messages that do not exist in the target store.[23:27:09] Associated folder data will NOT be copied to the target store.[23:27:09] Using 'English (US)' (0x409) as the default locale (Code page 1252)[23:27:09] All mailboxes will be processed, regardless of locale[23:27:09] Using default locale for all mailboxes[23:27:10] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'John Henderson' ('JHENDERSON') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\JHENDERSON.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Administrator' ('ADMINISTRATOR') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\ADMINISTRATOR.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'John Henderson' ('JHENDERSON').[23:27:10] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:10] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Michael Wheeler' ('MWHEELER') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\MWHEELER.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread0)Successfully completed copying mailbox 'Administrator' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\ADMINISTRATOR.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Michael Wheeler' ('MWHEELER').[23:27:10] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:10] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Becky Dawson' ('BDAWSON') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\BDAWSON.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Michelle Phillips' ('MPHILLIPS') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\MPHILLIPS.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Becky Dawson' ('BDAWSON').[23:27:10] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:27:10] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Michelle Phillips' ('MPHILLIPS').[23:27:10] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:10] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Bonnie Slater' ('BSLATER') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\BSLATER.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Sonya Serpas' ('SSERPAS') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\SSERPAS.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Bonnie Slater' ('BSLATER').[23:27:10] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:27:10] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Cindy Dolmage' ('CDOLMAGE') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\CDOLMAGE.PST'.[23:27:10] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Sonya Serpas' ('SSERPAS').[23:27:10] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'tape User' ('TAPE') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\TAPE.PST'.[23:27:11] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Cindy Dolmage' ('CDOLMAGE').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'tape User' ('TAPE').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'David Dolmage' ('DDOLMAGE') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\DDOLMAGE.PST'.[23:27:11] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'David Dolmage' ('DDOLMAGE').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Tori Henderson' ('THENDERSON') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\THENDERSON.PST'.[23:27:11] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Tori Henderson' ('THENDERSON').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Jeff Dorn' ('JDORN') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\JDORN.PST'.[23:27:11] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Web Admin' ('WEBADMIN') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\WEBADMIN.PST'.[23:27:11] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Jeff Dorn' ('JDORN').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Web Admin' ('WEBADMIN').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread0)Copying data from mailbox 'Jenae Campbell' ('JCAMPBELL') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\JCAMPBELL.PST'.[23:27:11] (Thread0)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Jenae Campbell' ('JCAMPBELL').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread0).LOG[23:27:11] (Thread1)Copying data from mailbox 'Web Backup' ('WEBBACKUP') on Server 'WK23-SBS' to file 'F:\_EXMERGE DATA\WEBBACKUP.PST'.[23:27:11] (Thread1)Errors encountered. Copy process aborted for mailbox 'Web Backup' ('WEBBACKUP').[23:27:11] For more information, please refer to file ExMerge-(Thread1).LOG[23:27:11] Number of items copied from the source store for all mailboxes processed: 0[23:27:11] Total number of folders processed in the source store: 12[23:27:11] 1 mailboxes successfully processed. 14 mailboxes were not successfully processed. 0 non-fatal errors encountered.[23:27:11] Process completion time: 0:00:00:01

Hi Jason, I woud need to see the thread logs too to be ablet o tell you the cause of your problems here but off hand I have 2 things I want you to check: 1. Have you setup the account you are running exmege as correctly?? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/273642 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823143 http://support.microsoft.com/kb/292509 2. You need to make sure the Locale (Language) that you select when running the tool is the same as that being used on the server. let me know how you get on mate.

http://www.hendersonassoc.com//images/exmergesuccess.jpg Johan, so now that it's creating the PST's, I need to create the suers onthe new server, and make sure their users names and email addresses are the EXACT SAME, right??? Maybe there is a light @ the end of this frustrating tunnel? Thanks.

OK, i'm importing form the PSt now... Seems to be working alright - so far... lol will take a while to import these back in, but will be well worth it in the end.

yeah although frustrating to get it to work initially exmerge is a pleasure once its up n running!! Glad to see / hear all going well for you man.

Johan, it seems that the EXMerge did not get everything from the mailboxes, like calendar, etc... I'm going to have to manually log into the old server OS, manully export all the mailbox into a PST, and then import into Exchange - or so it seems.. I have SBS installed, and walked through all the post-install setup, etc... The server seems to not be receiving inbound mail from the internet. I can send out from the server fine, and across the inside of the server from user to user. Nothing works from the outside though. I noticed the MTA stacks were disabled, so I set to automatic, rebooted, but still no luck. All other services needed are started, like the Information Store, Routing Agent & System Attendant - I'm not sure what else to check. Recipient policies are all set, the proper domains are there (hendersonassoc.com & hendersonassociates.net). Any other points to consider? I've poured a LOT of hours into this, and fear losing any chance of payment (for part of the hours, even) if I don't have this completely ready & functioning by tomorrow... :-( Thanks, Jason

to me this sounds like one of 2 things: 1. if you are using domain pop for your incoming mail then you need to setup the sbs pop3 connector with all the usernames, mailboxes & the pop3 server name 2. if you have the mail delivered directly to your exchange / smtp gateway then you either changed the IP of exchange without updating the nat rule on the firewall or you have not setup the new smtp forwarding ip on the smtp gateway. Strange that exmerge didnt grab all those items, it should have - have you thought of running isinteg on the old server db's to clear up corruption in the mailboxes? Manually also works too i guess. Oh, one more thing to remember is Exmerge is still bound by the old 2GB pst file size limitation so you may have to split some of those mailboxes accross multiple pst to get all the data out!