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Open Large .edb File

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BobbaBuoy

Instructor
May 25, 2003
75
US
I have a large *.edb file that I need to clean up but it is too big to open with notepad. Any ideas?

Thanks~

Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
No. Why do you ask? I would really like to clean this file up.

Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
A .edb file is a Microsoft Exchange server database which cannot be opened.

By "cleaned up" I assume you wish to make it smaller. In which case use eseutil /d.

If that isn't what you mean, please be clearer. I'll further assume you are not the email administrator.
 
Why do you keep taking shots at me? I AM the email admin of a 1-man operation and I am trying to learn how to manage my Exchange server. The person who set it up for me has a "Mail Back-up" folder on my other pc and it is getting large.




Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
I'm not "taking shots at you", I'm trying to work out what is going on. Maybe you are a programmer who has been lumbered or a database guy.

Mail backup folder? Is it filled with .bak files by any chance? If so you've got some backups - this is good. If not, what file extension are they and are they daily files?
 
More to the point, I'm trying to work out what is going on so that I can help YOU.

Further thoughts: How "big" are we talking and do you have direct access / can you log onto the Exchange server or are you looking at a remote share?
 
Third party tools, ontrack powercontrols for example, can directly open an edb file without exchange.
 
I have a large *.edb file that I need to clean up but it is too big to open with notepad. Any ideas?

Now THAT is truly funny. The last time I checked, .edb != .txt. Why would you try to open it in notepad?

I'm with Zelandakh - we need more info about how big it is and where it's at.

Pat Richard, MCSE MCSA:Messaging CNA
Microsoft Exchange MVP
 
I just assumed they were from a Lotus gnoats background. NSF files are text files. An edb file is a jet database of sorts. Even if you managed to get it open with notepad, about all you could do would be damage it. "del *.edb" would be a lot quicker and easier.



 
You know I like this forum because of the qualified people that reply and the speed with which they reply, but I don't appreciate the sarcasm and belittling sideways comments that Zelandakh and 58sniper are directing at me.

Nothing in my post was intended to be funny. I come to this forum because I am doing the best I can to admin a small (1 person) business with an exchange server and I have questions that I need answers to. In the past I have shrunk the *.edb file by opening it in notepad and deleting some of the old records.

I understand now, based on some of these posts, that this is not the way to operate. For those that have offered help without sarcasm, thank you. For the others, I am not sure whether to be angry at your arrogance or feel sad for your insecurity.

Bobba Buoy
Just trying to make sense of it all ...
 
If the database is damaged or not in production, third party tools are your best option. Ontrack powercontrols for one. If the database is in production on an exchange server, you have a few options. The best option is to clean up the individual mailboxes or create a mailbox policy to do the cleanup, then use the move mailbox wizard to move all the mailboxes to a new store/another server. This is the least disruptive.

If you only have a single exchange standard server or SBS server, then check the event ID 1221 to see how much white space is in the database, and if it's a lot, and the mail you deleted is never coming back, do an offline defrag. This is very disruptive because you have to take the store offline.

"The person who set it up for me has a "Mail Back-up" folder on my other pc and it is getting large." Could you describe this in a bit more detail? Is it a PST or OST?


 
You've deleted parts of the edb in notepad before? And you've got it to work?

I'm not belittling you in the slightest. I've just never ever heard of anyone opening a jet database in notepad, certainly never heard of anyone being able to read it and definitely not heard of anyone being able to cut the size down in this manner.

I'm impressed that you've previously managed it though.

eseutil /d is your friend. We've covered it along the way in each of the Exchange forums and the command line stuff remains the same.
 
Reading your responses again, I notice you haven't replied to any of the questions we have asked.

We've tried to point you in the right direction but until you give the information requested, we can't be a lot more help to you.

As to my arrogance or insecurity, feel as you wish. My arrogance has been to give regular time to this site answering questions for the last 8 years to help people like yourself. I shall continue to do it because I believe in helping others which is the ethos of this site.
 
Bobba Boy, I know the other two posters (Z and 58) and believe me, you're just being toyed with as a kitten would do with a ball of string.

Bottom line here sunshine is that you can open up an EDB file in notepad and in fact MS used to demonstrate the bit flip error correction by opening one up and changing a char from 0 to 1 and showing Exchange automatically fix and record the fix.

BIG difference is that the store they were fixing was 15MB in size and they weren't cleaning it up. You cannot use notepad.

As for whether you want to clean up:
What does your event id 1221 say? Unless the number there is WELL over 60% there should be no need to run the eseutil /d (as someone already posted)
If there isn't much in the way of free space reported by 1221 then your option is to run a Mailbox Manager Recipient Policy ( which will clear out as much mail as you want.

And the lads will read this and be shocked that I'm being so restrained. Normal savage service will be resumed shortly.

Oh, and get an Exchange book, you really, really, need one.
 
Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that Exchange is a slight overkill for a 1-person business?
 
It must be just you ... and me .. lol

Unless you are an Exchange tech. I wonder who whould buy an Exchange Server for just 1 user? Is that worth the amount of money needed to get it running?

And Bobba, If you don't like the answers, don't ask questions. We invite you to search google or whatever other means to describe who and how your method was ever succesful, if at all possible.

If we laugh, it is not so because it is funny, but because it just sounds so unreal.
Nothing in my post was intended to be funny.
It is not because you don't intend to, that it is not funny ;-)

But!
I come to this forum because I am doing the best I can to admin a small (1 person) business with an exchange server and I have questions that I need answers to.
This really is you telling us that you use this forum solely as your personal and free helpdesk. This is in no way the intention of this forum. Everyone gives and takes, so far you only take AND complain.

That is not nice and I personally do NOT appreciate your remarks towards members here who EARNED their stars and don not need to prove anything anymore.
You may like it or not, but they DO know better than you.
Accept it and answer questions for additional info or get help from the one who installed it!

Marc
If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC!
 
Wow, I din't even know you posted on tek-tips Mark.


John Fullbright

 
xmsre, is that adressed to me, Marc S. or Mark A.?

Marc
If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, expect random guesses or no replies at all.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC!
 
Mark A. dpttu, I didn't specify the last name because the given name is spelled differently.

John
 
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