Trying to remove old Exchange 2000 server

[kmcferrin]

We have recently migrated all of our users from our old E2K server to a new server with more space, faster processors, etc. Now that everything has been moved we need to decommission the old server. I have followed the steps outlined by Microsoft in KB 307917

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307917

All of the steps listed were completed a couple of weeks ago, but the decommissioning was delayed due to unrelated issues that required my attention. I just went back over the checklist this morning to verify that everything was completed and that everything had completed final replication (it should have by now!).

At any rate, when I launch the E2K setup from the CD and try to remove Exchange, I get the following warning:

"The component 'Microsoft Exchange Messaging and Collaboration Services' cannot be assigned the action 'Remove' because:
- One or more users currently use a mailbox store on this server. These users must be moved to a mailbox store on a different server or be mail disabled before uninstalling this server."

I've checked each to the storage groups via ESM, and the only mailboxes listed are the SMTP and SystemMailbox mailboxes (1 for each store in the Storage group), and a single System Attendant mailbox. I shouldn't have to remove the Attendant mailbox to uninstall Exchange, should I?

Any ideas where to go from here?

 

[marcus1234]

Check that you haven't assigned a user a mailbox, but they have never opened it. I had this problem because if the user does not use there mailbox it will not appear in ESM.

 

[SteveBurkett]

I had the same problem. Jump in to Active Directory Users and Computers MMC snapin and do a 'Find Objects In Active Directory' (book and magnifying glass icon).

Pick the Exchange tab, and hit Show only Exchange recipients and Users with Exchange mailbox. Then do a Find Now.

On that list should be the pesky user with the mailbox on the old server (look at the Exchange home server column).

You could use the Advanced Tab to filter just down to users on that old server, but you get the idea.

Delete or whatever that user, rerun the uninstall and it should let you remove it!

Hope it works for you!

 

[MalcolmS]

marcus1234 & stevebuckett suggestions should resolve your issue.

Just one further suggestion. Before you run the cd to uninstall exchange... unplug the ethernet cord on the old server but leave it running. Let the new server run for a day or two just to verify all is good. If there are any issues, simply plug the old server's ethernet cord back in and troubleshoot the problem. Once you run the cd uninstall process, troubleshooting problems get real interesting.

Good luck,
mas