KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q148284: XCON: When and How to Use the Mtacheck Utility

Article: Q148284
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 4.0,5.0,5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbusage exc4 exc5 exc55
Last Modified: 27-JUN-2002

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 5.5, 4.0, 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SUMMARY
=======

The Message Transfer Agent check utility (Mtacheck) is designed to provide a
soft recovery of a corrupted MTA database. It is automatically installed when
Microsoft Exchange Server is installed and can be found in the
%Exchange_Root%\Bin directory. This utility should be used when the MTA service
will not start due to corruption or suspected corruption in the MTA database.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Mtacheck must be run from a DOS VDM on the Microsoft Exchange Server. It is very
simple to use and only has 2 parameter, /v and /f. The parameters and the
results of their use are as follows:

Mtacheck.                  minimum logging.
Mtacheck /v                verbose logging.
Mtacheck /f <filename>     minimum logging that is saved to a text file.
Mtacheck /v /f <filename>  verbose logging that is saved to a text file.

For more information about the Mtacheck utility, please see pages 614-617 of the
Microsoft Exchange Administrator's Guide and the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q149017 XCON: MTACheck Event IDs and Command Line Syntax

In Microsoft Exchange version 4.0 Service Pack 4 and Microsoft Exchange version
5.0, two switches were added to Mtacheck.

Mtacheck /rd            removes directory replication messages.
Mtacheck /rp            removes public folder replication messages.


In Microsoft Exchange version 5.0, another switch was added:

Mtacheck /RL            removes unwanted Link Monitor messages

Additional query words: 4.00 corrupt mtadata db dat

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbusage exc4 exc5 exc55 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : :4.0,5.0,5.5

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.