Store working directory is missing or incorrect
[This topic is intended to address a specific issue called out by the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool. You should apply it only to systems that have had the Exchange Server Analyzer Tool run against them and are experiencing that specific issue. The Exchange Server Analyzer Tool, available as a free download, remotely collects configuration data from each server in the topology and automatically analyzes the data. The resulting report details important configuration issues, potential problems, and nondefault product settings. By following these recommendations, you can achieve better performance, scalability, reliability, and uptime. For more information about the tool or to download the latest versions, see "Microsoft Exchange Analyzers" at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=34707.]
Topic Last Modified: 2008-10-01
The Microsoft® Exchange Server Analyzer Tool reads the following registry entry to verify the working directory for the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem\Working Directory
The Exchange Server Analyzer displays an errorif the following conditions exist:
The directory that is specified as the Working Directory does not exist.
You are running Exchange 2000 Server, Exchange Server 2003, or Exchange Server 2007.
Exchange Server uses the working directory for temporary storage. For example, Exchange Server uses the working directory during the message conversion process. Exchange Server also uses the working directory to store a temporary database during defragmentation. If the working directory is not specified correctly, the following problems may occur:
Messages with attachments may build up in the SMTP local delivery queue.
Messages may be received without attachments.
Messages may not be delivered successfully.
By default, Exchange 2000 Server and Exchange Server 2003 sets the working directory to be the mdbdata directory under the directory where you installed Exchange Server. For example, if you install Exchange Server in the C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr directory, Exchange Server sets the working directory as C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\mdbdata.
By default, Exchange Server 2007 sets the working directory to be the mailbox database directory under the directory where you installed Exchange Server. For example, if you install Exchange Server in the C:\Program Files\Exchange Server directory, Exchange Server 2007 sets the working directory as C:\ Program Files\Exchange Server\Mailbox\MDBTemp
To correct this error, specify the working directory as a directory that exists on your Exchange server.
Important
This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to restore the registry, view the "Restore the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or Regedt32.exe.
To specify the working directory using regedit
Start Registry Editor (regedit).
Navigate to: HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSExchangeIS\ParametersSystem
Update the Working Directory registry value with the correct working directory for the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service, such as C:\Program Files\Exchsrvr\mdbdata.
Note
This change does not require that you restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.
Close the registry editor.
Before you edit the registry, and for information about how to edit the registry, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article 256986, "Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry" (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=3052&kbid=256986).
For more information about the Working Directory registry value, see the Knowledge Base article 298415, "Messages that have attachments are not delivered as expected, and Event ID 12003 and 327 messages are logged in Exchange 2000 Server and in Exchange Server 2003" (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=3052&kbid=298415).