Repair the Move Exchange Server Data task

  • Article

Updated: February 13, 2009

Applies To: Windows SBS 2008

Problem   The task to Move Exchange Server Data is not working. This problem may occur if the server that is running Windows SBS 2008 had a power outage or a system failure during the Move Exchange Server Data task.

Initially, there may be no indication that there is a problem. The server that is running Windows SBS 2008 may start normally, you may be able to create a new user account without any errors or warnings, and the user may have access to e-mail. However, when you attempt to complete the Move Exchange Server Data task, the task fails. This could be because the Exchange Server data exists in two locations. You can move data only if all of the storage groups exist on the same drive. If a user manually moves one of the storage groups to another location, or if the task to Move Exchange Server Data fails, it is possible that one storage groups exists on one drive and another exists on a different drive.

Solution   Verify that the Exchange Server data exists in two locations, and then move all of the data to one location.

To verify that the Exchange Server data exists in two locations

  1. From the Windows SBS 2008 Console, click Backup and Server Storage, and then click Server Storage.

  2. Click each drive that is listed, and then review the Used Space list to see if Exchange Server Data is listed more than once, and then continue to the following procedure.

To move all of the data to one location

  1. Open the Exchange Management Console: Click Start, click All Programs, expand Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, right-click Exchange Management Console, and then click Run as administrator.

  2. On the User Account Control page, click Continue.

  3. Expand Server Configuration, and then click Mailbox.

  4. In Database Management, click First Storage Group.

  5. In First Storage Group, click Move Storage Group Path.

    The Move Storage Group Path Wizard appears.

  6. Verify that the Log files path and the System files path are on the intended drive. For example, if they were on drive C before the move, move them back to drive C. Then click Move.

Note

You might receive the following message: “Error: The location specified for the transaction log files is invalid. Please verify that the directory exists and that there are no files in it.” If you do, it means that a copy of the storage data already exists at the new destination. For example, this can happen if the database is already moved but the storage group is still in the original location. In order for the Move command to work, both the storage group and the database must be in the source location. To resolve the error, do the following:

  1. Move the database back to the original storage location.

  2. Delete all of the files from the new destination.

  3. Move both the storage group and the database to the new destination as described in Step 6 of this procedure.

  1. Repeat steps 1-6 for each additional storage group that is listed. Verify that all storage groups are located on the same drive (for example, drive C).

  2. Click Finish to exit the Move Storage Group Path Wizard. You are returned to the Exchange Management Console.

  3. In Database Management, right-click Mailbox Database, and then click Move Database Path.

    The Move Database Path Wizard appears.

  4. Verify that the Database file path is on the same drive that you moved the storage groups to (for example, drive C), and then click Move.

  5. Click Finish.

  6. Repeat steps 9-11 for all mailbox databases, and then close the Exchange Management Console.

To read the most recent version of this topic, see the Microsoft Web site (https://go.microsoft.com/FWLink/?LinkID=147053). The most recent version might contain additional information that was not available when Windows SBS 2008 was released.