Repair Corrupt EDB files in Exchange & Get Back Server Functionality

of alertsThis write-up will guide users to repair corrupt EDB files in Exchange 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and below versions without losing any data.

Organizations that set up Exchange Accounts often end up dealing with files with the extension .edb. Moreover, this is the place where the user’s Outlook clients connect with the MS Exchange Server and the syncing happens.

When this syncing delays, or doesn’t happen at all it is a strong indication that the underlying edb file is in a corrupt state. As end users may not even understand what’s happening it is the admin who has to do the repair work.

Not to worry as we have a variety of ways to fix the issue, first, let us make ourselves similar to the causes that trigger this sort of problems.

Exchange Server Corruption Issues

EDB file Corruption is not the outcome of one single & how to repair corrupt Exchange Mailbox? The EDB files can be termed as the storehouse of information in which the entire data of Exchange Server Resides. Moreover, any single fault or a mix of more than one in the system can lead to corruption. A few of the causes behind the EDB file corruption are jotted below:

1. Virus infections
2. Abrupt shutdown of the system
3. Malfunctioning of Applications
4. Errors created by users
5. Objects found missing

Want to Repair Corrupt EDB Files Learn the Error Codes

Many times the server shows symptoms in the form of error codes. We have a list of various  Exchange Jet Errors that may sound common but are highly effective and help you get an in-depth understanding of file corruption.
1. Error -515: “JET_errInvalidLogSequence”: In this error, the log files are missing or are totally different from the other files in sequence.
2. Error -1018: “JET_errReadVerifyFailure”: It is just like Page-level corruption in EDB files.
3. Error -1216: “JET_errAttachedDatabaseMismatch”: It comprises of the header information of the log files and perverts as some log files of extreme importance have been removed.
4. Error -1601: “Operation Terminated with Error 1605 JET_errKeyDuplicate, illegal duplicate Key after 2.354 seconds”: It implies that the internal structure of the STM files has been damaged while recovering the files.
5. Error -1605: “Operation Terminated with Error -1605 (JET_errKeyDuplicate, Illegal Duplicate Key) after yyyy.yyyy seconds”: It explains that there is some premature exit of the Eseutil /p while recreating the B-trees.
6. Event ID 9175: “The MS Exchange Server computer is not available. There are Network problems or the MS Exchange Server Computer is down because of maintenance. MAPI provider failed”: The MS Exchange Mailboxes fail to mount as the Information Store is either stopped or is damaged.
7. MS Exchange Dirty Shutdown Error: “Error Database is in dirty shutdown state”: Information store service abruptly shut down leading to issues related to corruption in the EDB or STM files.

As you can see various errors occur in the Exchange Server that to the inaccessibility of the mailbox of the user that configures an account with the Exchange environment. So to Repair Corrupt EDB files in the Exchange Environment, first we go for a Manual Solution then we try other solutions.

Manual Method to Repair Corrupted EDB File in Exchange Server 

Microsoft provides the user with an inbuilt utility termed ESEUTIL that performs Repair Corrupted EDB files in Exchange 2013, Exchange 2010 mailbox repair, and also easily repairs edb files in Exchange 2013. The ESEUTIL is short for Exchange Storage Engine Utility. It is basically an executable program that repairs all the errors in the Exchange Mailboxes, public folders, and transport server queue edb files.

The software executes many switches that perform several functions(Repair Corrupted EDB files in Exchange 2003, 2007, 2010). The main fix for the corruption of the files lies between the ESEUTIL repair mode i.e., ESEUTIL/p. Moreover, this mode auto-corrects the corrupted or damaged Exchange Server at the page or table level, not at the application level. The main syntax of the ESEUTIL command while in Repair mode is:

ESEUTIL/P filename.edb

After the Exchange EDB file repair process is successfully completed, it is preferred to check the integrity of the file by integrity check tool and it also ensures that the process is consistent. For this, make use of ISInteg built-in software

ISInteg-fix

After completion of the process started by the tool, users need to save the files to a PST folder using the ExMerge Utility. Moreover, it saves all the data files from newly created PST.

Situations Where Inbuilt Repair Process is of No Use :

Though the ESEUTIL is a freeware, it can be used to fix many minor issues in a corrupted Exchange .edb file. However, the main disadvantage of the tool is that it is not that much effective. There are many situations in which the Exchange mailbox repair processes fails and leads to data loss.

Let’s go by the exact issue:

To start the restoration process with the ESEUTIL command use /p switch. This attempts the repair and validate all system tables and indexes. Many cases occur where a table, an index, or any other data fails to repair. In this case, the process to repair corrupt EDB files in the Exchange Server terminates with the ESE Event ID 500. It indicates that either or more pages are lost during the EDB Recovery process.

Best Alternative Solution to Repair Corrupt Edb Files

Final Thoughts!!!

Now users have detailed information to repair corrupt EDB files by using the solution mentioned here. To avoid the complexity of the manual method users can use the automated approach from any fortune organization. It is an old saying, “Prevention is Better than Cure” and “To Err is a Human”. Moreover, the advanced software in the above section removes corruption from offline EDB files without losing any data. Use it to export the recovered mailboxes to the Exchange Server, O365, and different file formats in a hassle freeway.