Top 3 Solutions to Repair Corrupt Exchange Mailbox
The presence of a corrupted database on an Exchange Server can cause erratic client-server behaviors due to which Outlook may not synchronize and its items may not archive properly due to which Outlook may hang/ freeze. After this, the Exchange mailboxes become inaccessible and ultimately lead to an obstruction in between the work. Therefore, at times, users search for a relevant method to repair corrupt Exchange mailbox, but they find it a tough task.
Technology up-gradation is at its peak nowadays. Many platforms are available for the storage of essential information. An exchange server is one such platform that helps to establish cross-communication to work collaboratively. It is assistive in storing and maintaining information like emails, contacts, journals, calendars, tasks, etc. in its Exchange database. However, it is possible for the primary data storage file of Exchange i.e. EDB to get corrupted or damaged due to several reasons.
Considering this, we have come up with some relevant workarounds to recover and repair Exchange database EDB files and export the recovered Exchange mailbox data to the Live Exchange Server, Office 365, and different file formats. Users can migrate offline Exchange 2010 database to Exchange 2016 after recovery.
But before that, it is essential to understand the reasons that may lead Exchange mailboxes to get corrupted. So, let us get started!
Table of Content
Factors Responsible For Exchange Mailbox Corruption
Exchange corruption is the EDB file corruption. EDB files are the storehouse of Exchange information in which the entire database of Exchange Server resides. A single fault in the local machine can lead Exchange mailboxes to corruption.
Some most common causes behind the EDB file corruption which may demand to repair corrupt Mailbox Exchange 2013/ 2010/ 2007 files are listed below:
- Outlook and Exchange connection issues
- Connection dropped during transmission
- Malfunctioning of the system applications
- Exchange Database Objects are missing
- The database has grown beyond the storage limit
- Hardware/ Server/ Boot failure issues
- The presence of bad sectors in hard disk drive
- Antivirus or malware attack on computer
- Errors generated by local machine users
Errors Which Demand to Repair Corrupt Exchange Mailbox
The corruption in Exchange mailboxes can lead users to different errors. Or, sometimes the corruption in Exchange EDB displays in the form of error message popups while the user tries to perform various operations on the database. Below are some of the common errors caused by damaged Exchange Server mailboxes:
- Error -501 (JET_errLogFileCorrupt): This error occurs due to the presence of corrupted log files in the Exchange Server.
- Error -533 (JET_errCheckpointCorrupt): This error message appears when the checkpoint files get damaged or deleted.
- Event ID 9175: If there are issues with the network or the Exchange Server is down due to its maintenance, this error message is displayed by the system.
- Error -1216 (JET_errAttachedDatabaseMismatch): This error code prompts when the header information that is saved in the log files gets deleted or mismatched.
- Error -1605: If there are some premature exits of Eseutil /p while regenerating the B-tress this error occurs.
- Dirty Shutdown State Exchange Error: If the computer becomes closed while the log files are still in cache memory then, a dirty shutdown error occurs.
- Error -1601: This error code implies that the internal structure of STM files has been damaged or corrupted during the file recovery.
- 1056749110 Exchange Error: While moving the Exchange mailboxes, if there are one or more corrupted items then, this error message prompts.
This is all about the common errors that occur in the Exchange mailboxes. Now, it’s time to discuss the solutions. So let’s deep dive into them one by one.
Method 1. Repair Corrupted or Damages Exchange Mailboxes 2016/ 2013/ 2010/ 2007 Using ESEUTIL
ESEUTIL is the descriptor of Exchange Server Database Utility that is offered by Microsoft to repair corrupted or damaged Exchange mailboxes such as Exchange 2013, Exchange 2010, and Exchange 2007.
It is a command-line tool that can detect and repair errors in Exchange mailboxes, public folders, or in the transport server queue database. This is the primary technique to resolve the issues of the Exchange database.
Here, we are going to repair corrupt Exchange mailbox using ESEUTIL repair mode. Via this, one can fix the corrupted mailbox Exchange 2007 database at the page and table levels however, it does not apply to the application level. Use the command given below to perform Exchange database hard repair.
ESEUTIL: Syntax in Repair Mode
ESEUTIL /P databasefilename.edb
After recovering the database successfully, it is recommended to run the integrity check on the Exchange database to verify that it is consistent. Use ISInteg software for the same as follows:
ISInteg –fix
Once the software is finished working then, users can save all the data into PST via ExMerge and create a new blank database. After that, again use ExMerge for saving all the databases from the PST file into the newly created database.
Scenarios When Repair Procedure Fails
ESEUTIL is a free method to repair corrupt Exchange Mailbox 2010 or other versions and is just capable of rectifying minor corruptions. Therefore, sometimes it may fail to work due to the higher level of corruption.
There are several cases in which it fails to perform the complete data recovery and also may result in data loss. For example, consider the below case:
The user has executed the repair process using ESEUTIL command with /p switch attempts and validates all the system tables as well as indexes. Yet, a table, index, or any other data that cannot be recovered is discarded by it.
Now, the repair process closes with ESE Event ID 500 which implies the presence of one or more bad data pages that were lost during the repairing procedure.
Limitations of ESEUTIL
It is clear now that ESEUTIL may fail to repair corrupt Exchange mailbox in some cases. Below given are some demerits associated with this inbuilt utility:
- After using ESEUTIL mailbox data can be permanently lost
- It requires large storage space to perform the operation
- Inconsistency in the database after running ESEUTIL command
- Using the ESEUTIL command line is very time-consuming
- Complexity at its best: Stuck or freeze the Exchange Server
- Unable to perform Recovery if the database is in a dirty shutdown state
Method 2. Make Use of New Mailbox Pair Request
Before directly executing the repair request. Firstly find the details of the Exchange mailbox by executing the Get-MailboxRepairRequest.
In the output, there is different information available related to the Exchange database such as GUID, amount of corruption, status of repair, type of corruption, and so on. After finding the reason behind the corrupted Exchange database, then execute the
1. To fix folder view corruption
New-MailboxRepairRequest –Mailbox Mack –CorruptionType FolderView
2. Fix aggregate count corruption
New-MailboxRepairRequest –Mailbox Mack –CorruptionType AggregateCount
3. Repair Exchange Database
New-MailboxRepairRequest –Mailbox Mack -CorruptionTypeProvisionedFolder,SearchFolder,SearchFolder,AggergateCount,FolderView- Archive
Method 3. Automated Way to Repair Corrupt Exchange Mailbox
The most prominent and secure method to repair a corrupted Exchange mailbox is the PCVITA EDB Repair Tool. This tool can repair the EDB files having different types of data such as Emails, Contacts, Tasks, and others. It preserves the complete folder hierarchy during the repairing process. There are no boundaries for the particular size of the EDB file. It is well-versed to repair large-sized EDB files without any hassle. Additionally, it can also restore Exchange database to different server.
Concluding Lines
In this blog, we have come across the causes and techniques to repair corrupt Exchange mailbox. The complete write-up describes the manual and automated workaround to sort the issue of a corrupt Exchange database. Now users can choose any of the methods that best suit their needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How to find the Exchange database status using PowerShell?
Ans – You just need to use the Get-MailboxRepairRequest to know the status of the Exchange database.
Q2. How to repair a corrupt Exchange mailbox with the EseUtil?
Ans – Execute eseutil/ p to repair the corrupt Exchange mailbox.
Q3. What is the right way to repair all of the data inside the Exchange database?
Ans – Use the above-mentioned tool to repair corrupt Exchange mailbox with all the data such as emails, contacts, tasks, and many more.