How to recover from 'recovery mode' error in Exchange 2003
If you have upgraded your Exchange server from Exchange 5.5 to 2000 or 2003, you may get a spurious error that reads: "Exchange is currently in recovery mode. You can either connect to your Exchange server using the network, work offline or cancel this login."
The accompanying dialog box has buttons for Connect, Work Offline and Cancel. If you attempt to reconnect, everything works -- until the next time you start Exchange, at which point the spurious error reappears. (The Exchange Server itself is, needless to say, not actually in recovery mode, which is all the more confusing.)
There are two main reasons why this can happen. The first is if an old e-mail profile is used against an information store that was recovered or imported from another store, causing a conflict between local
When you register, you’ll also receive targeted alerts from my team of editorial writers and independent industry experts with the latest news, tips, and advice to help you do your job more efficiently and effectively. Our goal is to keep you informed on the hottest topics and biggest challenges faced by Exchange professionals today working with Exchange, Outlook and other related technologies.
Margie Semilof, Editorial Director
Premium Access
Register now for unlimited access to our premium content across our network of over 70 information Technology web sites.
By submitting you agree to receive email from TechTarget and its partners. If you reside outside of the United States, you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States.
Privacy
Dig Deeper
-
People who read this also read...
This was first published in May 2004
and remotely-cached data. The solution in such a case is to delete and recreate the Exchange Server profile for the Outlook client in question.
However, another common reason this happens after upgrades to Exchange 2003 is a Domain Name System (DNS) failure. If the client machine is unable to resolve the Exchange Server because of mis-configured internal DNS, then this (rather misleading) error will also come up. This may actually be the more common of the two problems, since it's easier to misconfigure DNS than it is to cause the problem described in the first scenario.
One sure symptom of this problem being a DNS resolution problem is if all workstations have this problem. Bear in mind that it's also not impossible for this to be caused by a combination of both problems.
Serdar Yegulalp is the editor of the Windows 2000 Power Users Newsletter.
Do you have comments on this tip? Let us know.
Related information from SearchExchange.com:
Tip: 'Exchange is in recovery mode' domain issue
Expert Advice: Exchange in recovery mode
Troubleshooting Guide: 'Exchange is in recovery mode' errors
Learning Guide: Exchange Server backup and recovery
11 tips in 11 minutes: Migrating from Exchange 5.5 to Exchange 2003
Reference Center: Exchange Server backup and recovery resources
Disclaimer:
Our Tips Exchange is a forum for you to share technical advice and expertise with your peers and to learn from other enterprise IT professionals. TechTarget provides the infrastructure to facilitate this sharing of information. However, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or validity of the material submitted. You agree that your use of the Ask The Expert services and your reliance on any questions, answers, information or other materials received through this Web site is at your own risk.
