Exchange database recovery is needed when the organization's Exchange EDB files become corrupt or dismount. Therefore, organizations look to repair Exchange database file as soon as possible. Otherwise, it may affect the working of the Exchange Server. Microsoft offers a native tool to perform the Exchange recovery names as Eseutil. Users can take help from this native method for soft and hard recovery of Exchange database files. Soft and hard recovery depends on the level of damage in the Exchange EDB files that we will discuss in this blog. Moreover, we will also discuss about the professional software that Shoviv offers to repair exchange corrupt mailbox database of Exchange Server.
Reasons why EDB file gets corrupted
- Dirty Shutdown of the Exchange Server
- Virus attacks
- Due to Exchange Server errors
- Power failure
- Crash of the Exchange Server.
Above, we mentioned some common reasons why an Exchange database file gets corrupted. It could be more reasons that vary from user to user.
Repair Exchange EDB files using Eseutil
Eseutil is the native tool that Microsoft provides to repair EDB files. This Eseutil tool is useful in repairing corrupt EDB files, reducing the size of EDB files, and many more. Now we will discuss the step-by-step process to repair Exchange database using Eseutil. But before that, we will focus on some switches of the Eseutil.
Location of the Eseutil tool in Exchange 2013/2016
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\Bin follows this path to find the Eseutil tool for your Exchange Server.
Useful switches of the Eseutil tool
- Eseutil/r – used to restore the Exchange database file.
- Eseutil/p – to repair Exchange database file.
- Eseutil/d – helps in reducing the size of the Exchange database.
- Eseutil/c – hard recovery of the Exchange log files.
- Eseutil/m – to display the Exchange database's headers, logs, and checkpoints.
- Eseutil/y – copies large databases and log files.
- Eseutil/mh – used to display the state of the Exchange database.
- Eseutil/g – for checking the integrity of the database file.
- Eseutil/k – to perform the checksum tests.
Step by step process to repair corrupted Exchange database
Below we discussed the steps you can follow to perform the Exchange database repair using the Eseutil tool.
- Step 1: First, find the Eseutil tool to go ahead for repair Exchange database. Users need to follow the below-mentioned path to find it. This path only works for Exchange 2013 and 2016 versions installed in C: drive volume.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft\Exchange Server\V15\Bin\
- Step 2: Check the size of the Exchange database file. If you find the size of the Exchange database file larger than 10 GB. Then, users need to reduce the white space from the database's total size.
- Step 3: Now check the state of the Exchange database. Users need to follow the Eseutil/mh to check the state of the database.
eseutil /mh < database file name>
If it shows a clean shutdown state, then there is no issue in your exchange database file. And users easily recover all the data by moving all the logs to a different location. If it displays the dirty state shutdown; the database file can't recover by moving logs. This might be due to missing or deleted log files in the database. In this situation, users need to perform a hard recovery process that we will discuss.
- Step 4: Check logs that they are healthy or if there is a problem with log files. Users need to follow the below-mentioned command to check the log file's status.
eseutil /ml " location of log file "
It will display the status of the log file if they are healthy or having a problem.
- Step 5: Thereafter, execute the soft recovery task if your log files are healthy. Use the below-mentioned command for soft recovery.
EseUtil/r parameter
After performing this task, recheck the status of the database using the eseutil/mh command. And mount all data from the Exchange database file.
- Step 6: Users must perform the hard recovery for the dirty shutdown state database. But the hard recovery is risky for your database file. Therefore, you have to accept the data loss during hard recovery. Another option is to go for professional software to eliminate the challenges of the hard recovery process of Eseutil.
Users must have to use the eseutil/p command to perform the hard recovery.
Last, after completing this process use the Isinteg tool to repair Index. Firstly, find the location of the tool by following C:>Program Files>Exchsrvr> bin location.
Then, run the Isinteg tool using the Isinteg –s < server_name> -fix –test alltests command.
Repeat this command multiple times to fix the errors.
Moreover, if you use the Exchange 2010 or later version, users can use New-MailboxRepairRequest before mounting the database. Remember one thing while performing this task – don't stop the process once it starts.
The Eseutil tool is not efficient in recovering all the data with the accuracy of the Exchange database file. So, you have to be prepared for data loss situations. Moreover, it has a tricky process; you should be technically savvy. It consumes too much time and is complicated to use. Therefore, professional software like Shoviv third-party software is the best solution you can implement to repair Exchange database file of the Exchange Server.
Shoviv professional software to repair corrupt Exchange database
Shoviv Exchange Recovery Manager Tool is advanced software that gives an accurate recovery of the data after the repair Exchange Server database file. The working process of this software is easily understandable. This software works at the fastest speed and is able to process multiple Exchange database files in a single click. Moreover, it has no limitations on adding large and multiple EDB files at once.
Users must only follow one or two steps to process this repair task. It has various features and functionality that provides a good working experience to users. Users do need prior technical knowledge to perform the Exchange Server database repair task. Below we described more features and functionality that Shoviv Exchange Recovery Manager Tool offers.
- It recovers all data from Exchange mailboxes, including emails, contacts, tasks, journals, and other items.
- Users also can repair exchange online mailbox using this software with ease.
- It allows users to save the repaired Exchange mailboxes into various file formats such as PST, MSG, EML, RTF, etc.
- This software perfectly maintains the originality of the folder hierarchy and meta properties of the data even after performing this repair task.
- Moreover, this tool allows users to export the Exchange mailboxes into the Office 365 and Live Exchange Server without any hassle.
- Its preview option permits users to ensure added items before processing the repair exchange mailbox database of the Exchange Server.
- The search option of this software is very quick and able to find the desired items in a little bit of time.
- Users also can split the resultant oversized PST file into smaller ones using its splitter option. It helps users to eliminate the challenges of oversized PST file.
- This software offers a simple user interface through which novice users also execute exchange repair database tasks with ease.
- Furthermore, users can set the password for the resultant PST file to protect the data of the PST file.
Most importantly, it has an incremental export option through which users can resume the paused process and eliminate data duplicity. This software also generates a report of the complete process after repairing the EDB files file. Shoviv offers a free evaluation version of this software that users can download to check its additional features. Now we will provide you step by step guide on how to repair Exchange database files using Shoviv software.
Step by step working process of the Shoviv Exchange Recovery Manager Tool
Before going ahead, install the Shoviv Exchange Recovery Manager Tool.exe from the official website of Shoviv.
- Step 1: Double-tap on the downloaded file.
- Step 2: Then go to the ribbon bar and select Add source option.
- Step 3: Click on the add EDB file and select the EDB file by browsing the location. After filling up all the required details, click on finish.
- Step 4: Thereafter, right-click on the mailboxes list and select the Export in Outlook PST option.
- Step 5: The new window to select or deselect subfolders will open. After making the needed changes click on the Next button.
- Step 6: Now select the options to save the new file into existing ones. Or, to save the file in new ones, browse the location where you want to save the new file. Here users also check the incremental export option, create the password for the resultant PST file and split the resultant PST file. After that, click on next.
- Step 7: The filter wizard will option on your screen. After including or excluding the desired items using its filter option, click on the Next button.
- Step 8: Processing will start to export EDB to PST. If you want to save the report of the whole process, click on Save report and then finish.
Conclusion
As we discussed above about both manual and professional methods to repair Exchange database files, we conclude that the Shoviv Exchange Recovery Manager Tool is the best solution. But still, it all depends on the user’s understanding of which solution they want to prefer to make this repair task. Before making any decision, try its free trial version, which allows users to process 50 items per folder into the target.
