Exchange database and mailbox recovery

[RayDay]

I have had a situation where the SBS Server at our company had to be wiped out and reinstalled. I have reinstalled exchange 2000 and am trying to retrieve the previous exchange mailboxes. The previously installed exchange server was installed in the C drive of the computer. I have a full backup of the old C drive. Is there any possible way of recouping all the mailboxes from the old C drive copy?

 

[anawrocki]

If you have a lot of mail boxes to recover, a good offline backup, and some $$$ to spend this will rock your world.

http://www.ontrack.com/powercontrols

 

[jaksen112]

so many other free ways you can accomplish this, did you name the exchange server the same as it was before? 01110000

 

[anawrocki]

Its not free, but it pays for itself quickly if your time is of any value.

 

[gkes]

Assuming that there's no relevant data currently in the server, AND if the server is named the same, AND the store is named the same, AND the database and transaction log paths are both the same, then all you need to do is shut down the store, remove all existing databases and transaction logs, put the old databases and transaction logs in the EXACT same path (including drive letter) as they originally resided on the old server, and mount the store. Make sure to use copies of the old database and transaction logs.

Note that depending on the number of logs it may take awhile to mount - be patient. Check for ESE log entries periodically to ensure the roll-forward is proceeding.

If necessary, you may also need to run mbconn to reassociate accounts to mailboxes - see this link for info:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;271886

Note you won't be creating new accounts, only re-connecting existing accounts. This part may not be necessary. Only complete it if the Exchange services all start but mailboxes are still not available.