KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q195505: XADM: How to Recover When the Database Drive Fails

Article: Q195505
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): exc4 exc5 exc55
Last Modified: 15-NOV-1999

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

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

SUMMARY
=======

This article describes the steps to recover when the drive containing the
database files for the Microsoft Exchange Server information store and/or the
Exchange Server directory service fails because of hardware problems, and is
unrecoverable and unreadable.

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

Steps for Recovery
------------------

1. In Control Panel, double-click Services, and set the System Attendant service
  to disabled to prevent the service from trying to start up or being started
  by server monitors.

2. Install a new drive by adding hardware to replace the failed drive.

3. Create a logical drive with the same name as before, and format it.

4. In the <Exchsrvr> directory, create the Mdbdata and/or Dsadata
  subdirectories.

5. Enable the System Attendant, and restore from the last online backup for the
  information store and/or directory store.

6. Start the Exchange Server services.

Because it is assumed that the drive containing the transaction log files is
available, on startup, the service will replay through any log files generated
since the last online backup, and will recover all data.

NOTE: The above steps will result in no data loss ONLY if the transaction logs
were not on the failed drive containing the database files.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : exc4 exc5 exc55 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange550 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : winnt:4.0,5.0,5.5
Issue type        : kbhowto

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

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.