Unable to remove Exchange 2000 server

[cc929]

Dear All,

I have a problem to remove Exchange 2000 server.
I setup a new Exchange 2003 server and transfer everything from Exchange 2000 except that I still see THREE mailboxes in the Exch2000. These mailboxes are
Exchange Services
System Attendant
SMTP (NYExch-{D522E5A5-BF9E-483E-BBE0-E7035C321277})

I don’t know how to delete or disable or remove them.

When I tired to remove Exchange 2000, I got this error message and didn’t allow me to remove it.

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 already have “System Attendant” mailbox and “SMTP” mailbox in the Exchange 2003 server
I don’t have “Exchange Services” mailbox in Exch 2003. Can I move it to exch2003?

Please help me how to remove or disabled these mailboxes then I can able to remove Exchange 2000 server!

Many thanks in advance!

 

[patstone]

Are you trying to remove Exch2k by using Add/Remove programs ? If so try put in a Exch2k cd and run setup from that then pick remove. If this does not work there is a KB which details how to remove Exchange via the registry.

 

[fuego007]

You can remove the Exchange 2000 server from within Exchange System Manager on your Exchange 2003 server. Make sure the Recipient Update Service, OAB, and public folders have been moved to the new server (create replicas on the new server, allow time for replication, remove old server from replica set). Also, make sure any connectors on the Ex2000 server are recreated on the new server. Once this is done, you can go into Exchange System Manager, expand Administrative tools|Domain|Servers, right-click the server you want to remove and select All Tasks|Remove Server.

Before you perform the final step, turn the server off or disconnect it from the network for a day to make sure it isn't missed by anything on the new server.

 

[cc929]

Hi fuego007,

Thanks for your help!
I had stopped all exchange services three months already in the old exchange server but the server still up. I can't shut down this server because that is my DC. Is it OK for testing new Exchange 2003.

When I tried to remove Exch2000 from CD, they always said one or more mailboxes srill save in IS. When I check it, I only see Exchange service, System Attend & SMTP mailbox and no way for me to delete it. I can see these mailboxes in my new Exch2003. What should I do to remove Exch2000?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[fuego007]

If you have stopped the exchange services, and made sure that all the other items above have been done, do the following:

In Exchange System Manager, under Administrative Groups|Site|Routing groups|Members, make sure your new server is set to be the Master if there is an option to do so.

After doing that, go to Administrative Groups|Site|Servers, right-click the name of the server you want to remove, and select "Remove Server".

That should do it, and you don't need to worry about the three accounts on the old server - they're server-specific administrative accounts and won't be missed.

Bob

When all else fails, read the book!