In the event that the Exchange Server (5.5 / 2000) might fail, the following is a proposed solution for restoring the database files while minimizing system downtime. This process can also be used in case there is a need to restore the contents of an individual’s mailbox.

I have disabled circular logging on the Exchange Server. Disabling circular logging allows us to restore Exchange up to the point of failure. If circular logging was enabled, Exchange would only be able to be restored from current backups.

Install Exchange Server on a separate member server, or on a BDC (currently BDC). This server will further be referenced as “Hotspare”.

When installing Exchange Server, DO NOT join an existing site. Instead, create a new site with the same Organization name and site name as the production site (currently Ent Federal Credit Union/Colorado Springs).

Install the same Exchange service pack as the production server (currently SP3).

Stop all Exchange services, except for the System Attendant.

Restore the Information Store from backups to the hot spare. Perform a full restore, and each incremental restore, up until the time of failure. Or, perform a full restore, and the appropriate differential backup.

Try to Stop/Start the information store service (NOTE: If the Start is successful, start the MTA and ignore the rest of this section. Otherwise continue with step 8).

From the command prompt, run eseutil /d /ispriv.

From the command prompt, run eseutil /d /ispub.

Start and stop the Information Store service.

Start the Directory Service.

From the command prompt, run “isinteg –patch”. This verifies the information store databases and repairs them accordingly.

Start the Exchange Information Store service.

　

Recovering individual items from the information store

Run the DS/IS consistency adjuster. This verifies that the Directory Service and Information Store are synchronized.

Select the recipient’s mailbox and assign it an NT account.

Start and stop all the Exchange services.

Create a .PST file and log on to the client (currently Outlook).

While in the user’s mailbox, move all items to the Personal folder store.

Messages are now stored in the .PST file and can be moved to the individual’s production inbox.　

Recovering the Public Folder Store

Open the properties of the Public Information Store object.

Select Instances.

Add all folders under “Public Folder” to “Folders on this Information Store”.

Click “OK”.