Exchange 2007 removal - public folders

[timbo343]

We have just installed a new exchange 2010 server and just about to remove the exchange 2007 server but in doing so i have a public folder error. When we moved from 2003 to 2007, i dont think i removed 2003 correctly so now i am getting an error when trying to remove the public folder store on the 2007 box. The message is:

 

--------------------------------------------------------
Microsoft Exchange Error
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The public folder database 'Public' cannot be deleted.

Public
Failed
Error:
The public folder database "ATLAS\First Storage Group\Public" is the default public folder database for the following mailbox database(s):
HERMES\First Storage Group\Mailbox Store (HERMES)
. Before deleting the public folder database, assign a new public folder database to the mailbox database(s).

 

The trouble is, HERMES is no longer available and hasnt been for about 6 years. This was the 2003 exchange server

 

Is there a way to get round this error?

 

Thanks

[sukh]

1. Are you using PF at all?

2. How did you remove Exch 2003?

[timbo343]

1. Im not using public folders but im just following a video on how to remove all exchange information correctly.

 

2. Ummmm, i kinda just turned it off thinking that it wouldnt matter, it was until a year past with Exchange 2007 i realised i had done the wrong thing.

[sukh]

1. OK, if youre sure you're not using PF.

2. Are you using Outlook 2003 clients? If yes, then you will need to keep the PF DB, if not then we can get rid of the PF DB it it exists.

3. We can also remove Exch 2003 manually (I assume the server is gone forever?) - How to remove Exchange Server 2003 from your computer - Follow the adsiedit section and delete the Exch 2003 server only.

[timbo343]

1, Yeah im sure that we are not using PF. I created one the other month as a test but nothing came of it

2, No, we are using 2010 clients, we moved from 2003 in the summer

3, Thanks for the link, i just used the ADSIEDIT section of it but worked a treat, thanks.

 

I had a problem with actually removing the PF after going through adsi but after a bit of digging i got there and no more exchange 2003 or 2007 references on the domain.

 

Thank You