Restoring a PRIV.EDB file

[1dannyd]

We had a massive meltdown.. The result is I had to recreate all the users so they could have a new mailbox.
I have what I think is a viable edb backup but I'm hesitant to restore it on my new users and Exchange installation.
Any hints or, and I don't want to get in trouble here, but are any of you for hire or know of an Exchange 2000 professional willing to travel and fix this for me?
Dan Dennis
ddennis@ci.mammoth-lakes.ca.us

 

[WhiteWiz]

The best technique i have found is this:
1 create an identical box; same netbios name, ip address, Exchange site name, exchange service pack level etc. It will have to be on a separate network (or no network) so it doesn't confict with your working exchange server.
2 restore the .edb file there.
3 start up the information store service to play the redo logs.
4 run EXMERGE.EXE from the windows nt resource kit to export all of the mailboxes to .pst files.
5 import all the .pst into your new users mailboxes. If you want to be paranoid you can run scanpst on these files but by my experience they are always fine.

Steve