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Exchnage 2000 Reinstallation

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by vigo98 1 view

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This is related to the question posted earlier today "Need urgent HELP with QUEUE in Exhcnage "

I think Win2k server that runs Exchange has gone bad. Otherwice I don't see a reason for the behavior described in the previous question.

So now myquestion is how can I reinstall Win2k and Exchange preserving the Exchange database and all the messages.
I have win2k installed on one phisical disk(I won't to format it) and Exchange 2k (program) with Mailstore on the second disk.
Does anyone know of a way to reinstall Win2k and Exchange, preserving all the messages in this situation. Please provide detailed help if you can.
Thanks,
Victor

3 replies

by vigo98

I misspeled the word "want" in the part where I talk about formating the system disk. I WANT TO FORMAT THE DRIVE.

by [_rick_>

Is this server also the only Domain Controller?

If yes then you have some work cut out for you. You will not be able to reinstall the Active Directory without re-assigning al lof the GUIDs, which will cause the users NOT to be able to open any ofthier accounts.

If this is the only DC and you have a spare box:

1. Install W2k on spare and using DCPROMO add it to the Active Directory. Make sure it replicates.
2. Copy over any Exchange data you wish to have on hand to a spare server, workstation, tape drive, etc
3. Reinstall/reformat the system drive on the original box. Hopefully the Exchange data will be fine - in step 2 you performed a file backup.
4. Make sure the name of the system is identical to what is was. (otherwise problems will arrise)
5. Run DCPromo add it back into the Active Directory.
6. Run Exchange Setup with the DisasterRecovery switch /disasterrecovery (if you don't do this you will not be able to install Exchange on this box)
7. Test

If this is a standalone and not a Domain Controller, you can skip all of the DC stuff above. But make sure to make a copy of all Exchnage data to a different server (you never know what could happen during the reinstall/reconfig). Follow the sames steps as above, but with out using DCPROMO.

Good luck, I don't think that I've forgotten anything.

Rick

by vigo98

Thanks for that Rick. Just one question I have.
The Exchange box is not a DC. And as I said all the exchange data (db's, log files, even the program files) are on a separet HDD.
So if I reinstall windows from scratch, will Exchange setup recognize that it has been installed already, and will it allow me to run the desaster recovery mode setup?
Thanks for your answer,
Victor

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