Ghost users when creating meeting request 2

[withanh]

We have some "ghost" users that still crop up from time to time. I'm sure it has to do with delegates, but how do I check the delegates list for all users to see if either of my 2 current "ghosts" are there without opening each mailbox and looking at tools/options/delegates?

Thanks!

h

 

[Zelandakh]

We've covered this here in this forum with plenty of fixes and links - search will help you.

 

[withanh]

I have searched, and the only hits I get are if you know the person you are sending to, then you check their delegates list. And I already know that. I'm asking because I can't find my answer by searching, possibly because I didn't use the right search terms, who knows. If you know a post that answers my question, how about posting that link for me.

My question is

How do I check the delegates list for all users?

I don't know the user that is returning the NDR's, the original meeting request was sent to everyone. I'd like to know if there is a way (maybe through VBS?) to check the delegates list of everyone to see who is the one that has the non-existent users on their delegates list.

 

[Zelandakh]

You need a blog post...

Try this:

http://krisdev.blogspot.com/2005/06/vbscript-for-all-domain-users-write.html

That will solve your initial problem then you can use the tried and tested solutions on TT to remove the delegates.

 

[withanh]

Gold star for you - well, purple anyway...That script is great.

But, it only shows the delegate accounts that are still active. I have two ghost accounts that are most certainly still set as delegates, but they do not exist in A/D any longer. Any ideas for finding what accounts they are tied to?

h

 

[Zelandakh]

I've always found that I've known and then can remove them manually...

use Mdbvu32.exe to manually remove the delegate rule. Mdbvu32.exe is a message store viewer utility that uses Extended MAPI. You can find the Mdbvu32.exe utility on the CD of each version of Exchange.

To identify a delegate rule and remove the delegate rule from a mailbox, follow these steps:
Make sure that Outlook is not currently running on the workstation.
Start the Mdbvu32.exe utility, and then click OK in the first dialog box, to log on.
On the MDB menu, click OpenMessageStore.
Click the relevant mailbox, and then click Open to start the store.
On the MDB menu, click Open Root Folder.
Double-click Top of Information Store in the Child Folders area.
Double-click Inbox in the Child Folders area to view the properties of the Inbox folder.
Locate the Associated Message in FLD: pane of the MAPI_FOLDER-Inbox window. Notice the items that start with *pb EF 00 00 00 19 82 62. Each of these is a rule that is set up on the Inbox. The user can set up some of the rules. Other rules are for things like using the Out of Office Assistant or forwarding meeting responses to a delegate.
Double-click each of the rules in turn, to open the rule and examine the rule to determine which rule is the delegate rule. Check the Message Property 0x65EB. The delegate rule should have the Schedule + EMS Interface for this property.
When you find the corresponding rule, check the message property 0x65EF, which is a long, double-byte string of characters. If the string starts with 02, the rule states, "Send meeting requests and responses only to my delegates, not to me." If the string starts with 01, the rule states, "Delegate receives copies of meeting-related messages sent to me." If either of these options is set in Outlook, and there is no message or rule under Associated Message in FLD:, the rule no longer exists, which explains why the requests and responses are not being forwarded. You can also delete the delegate rule from here.
After you identify the delegate rule, select the rule in the Associated Message in FLD: pane of the MAPI_FOLDER-Inbox window.
In the Operations available box, click lpFld->DeleteMessages(), and then click Call Function.
When the MAPI_FOLDER-Inbox->DeleteMessages() window appears, click OK to delete the message.
Quit Mdbvu32.exe by closing all windows until you return to the MDB Viewer Test Application window.
On the MDB menu, click Store Logoff, and then click OK.
Click OK in the LOGOFF_COMPLETE window.
Close the MDB Viewer Test Application window.

Not sure if that will help you but if not I'll put my thinking cap on.

 

[withanh]

Thanks Zelandakh, that's a lot to chew through. It looks like there's no easy way. I'll take a look at your solution this afternoon and see how well I can manage it.

I appreciate your expertise and advice!

h

 

[withanh]

Zelandakh,

Do I run this on the server or a workstation? I'm guessing workstation because it didn't give the prompts you listed then closed itself out when I tried it on the server.

When I ran it on my workstation, it only showed my workstation in the list, not everyone's. And, I did not see an option or selection for "Top of Information Store" in the Child Folders area.

h

 

[Zelandakh]

You run mdbvu32 on your workstation with outlook closed then select the mailbox in the app.

 

[withanh]

That's what I thought. How/where do I find the "Top of Information Store" in the Child Folders area? I see about 8 or 10 things listed under Child Folders, but "Top of Information Store" is not one of them???

Thx,

h

 

[Zelandakh]

No, cos I'm thinking of a different app!

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...92-d8ad-49e3-ada4-e2422c0ab424&displaylang=en

is PFDavAdmin which gives you access to the next layer up.

OK, now that I've come to my senses, you don't want ToIS, you need IPM Sub Tree in mdbvu32.exe. The rest of the information should work.

Yes, it is a bit of a tedious process, but it will resolve your issue.

I haven't tried, but if you add someone else entirely in Outlook as a delegate who absolutely has never been one before for that person, wait 30 minutes then remove them as a delegate and wait 30 minutes then Exchange might sync everything for you. As I say, I heard about this but have not tried.