Unable to uninstall Exchange 2007 - Cannot find at least one GC

Will Lin 21 Reputation points
2020-08-15T03:09:32.3+00:00

Hi,
We are trying to uninstall Exchange 2007 SP3 since we have migrated to Exchange 2013 already. Our forest/domain level functionality are on 2008 R2. DCs are running Windows 2016. When trying to uninstall Exchange 2007 SP3, we are getting the well known "[ERROR] Cannot find at least one global catalog server running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or later in the local Active Directory site." error message. From our Exchange 2007 server, we can use dsquery and nslookup to query the GC without any issues.

We also tried to set the StaticGlobalCatalogs and StaticDomainControllers on the Exchange 2007 server but it didn't help. From the Exchange 2007 EMC, I can see that we have the preferred DC and DC for exchange to use. Any ideas of what's causing the problems? The Exchange setup log didn't provide much useful information.

8/14/2020 3:49:05 PM] [0] **************
[8/14/2020 3:49:05 PM] [0] Setup will run the task 'test-setuphealth'
[8/14/2020 3:49:05 PM] [1] Setup launched task 'test-setuphealth -DomainController 'hostname.domain.org' -DownloadConfigurationUpdates $true -ExchangeVersion '8.3.485.1' -Roles 'Mailbox' -ScanType 'PrecheckUninstall' -SetupRoles 'Mailbox','ClientAccess' -TargetDir 'M:\Exchange Server' -IISInstalled $true'
[8/14/2020 3:49:05 PM] [1] Beginning processing.
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Beginning processing.
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Ending processing.
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Beginning processing.
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Administrator Active Directory session settings are: View Entire Forest: 'True', Configuration Domain Controller: 'hostname.domain.org', Preferred Global Catalog: 'hostname.domain.org', Preferred Domain Controllers: '{ hostname.domain.org }'
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Searching objects "ServerNameX" of type "Server" under the root "$null".
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Previous operation run on domain controller 'hostname.domain.org'.
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Previous operation run on domain controller 'hostname.domain.org'.
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Preparing to output objects. Maximum result set size "unlimited".
[8/14/2020 3:50:36 PM] [1] Ending processing.
[8/14/2020 3:50:37 PM] [1] [ERROR] Cannot find at least one global catalog server running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 or later in the local Active Directory site.
[8/14/2020 3:50:37 PM] [1] Ending processing.
[8/14/2020 3:50:37 PM] [0] **************

Thank you!

Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server Management
Exchange Server: A family of Microsoft client/server messaging and collaboration software.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. Jon Alfred Smith 541 Reputation points
    2020-08-15T03:55:06.493+00:00

    The problem is obviously that Exchange 2007 does not support your Active Directory Environment. So it does not see your GC. Forest/domain level functionality is okay, but not DCs with W2016.

    Since Exchange 2007 is end-of-life long ago, you won't find any official info from Microsoft anymore.

    Take a look at this link which still has the information from TechNet.

    Supported AD environments for Exchange 2007 SP3 RU13 or later: Windows 2012R2 domain controllers, but not Windows 2016.

    Forest functional level: Windows Server 2012

    https://blog.rmilne.ca/2016/05/16/exchange-support-for-windows-server-2016/


  2. Andy David - MVP 139.8K Reputation points MVP
    2020-08-15T11:43:53.187+00:00

    One Possibility:

    This was the same issue and solved by promoting to DC/GC running on Windows 2012 and then hard-coding the Exch Server to it:

    https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/b862b3a3-023c-4fdb-9a3f-20b67956d0cc/unable-to-uninstall-exchange-2007-sp3-cu-23-after-coexistence-with-exchange-2013-cannot-find-at?forum=exchangesvrgenerallegacy


  3. Lydia Zhou - MSFT 2,371 Reputation points Microsoft Employee
    2020-08-17T06:04:31.987+00:00

    For "I have ran into this very same issue when we have Windows 2008 R2 and Windows 2012 DCs", did all GCs and DCs run Windows server 2012 at that time?

    You can try to add another DC/GC in your organization as AD-7937 mentioned, and you have to configure it to be a GC. After setting StaticDomainControllers and StaticGlobalCatalogs for Exchange 2007, try to restart Microsoft Exchange Active Directory Topology service.
    Then use Setup wizard or Setup.com command to remove Exchange 2007 again. If the issue persists, you can post the screenshot of the error alert here, and don't forget to cover your personal information. For your reference: How to Completely Remove Exchange 2007 from a Server.


  4. OlegKovalenko 6 Reputation points
    2020-08-19T20:55:13.287+00:00

    You can Rolling back functional levels AD Windows 2012, after remove Exchange 2007 Server and up to windows 2016.

    Exchange 2007 Server Supportability Matrix

    Rolling back functional levels windows 2016

    Please remember about backup masters role AD, before and after change AD.

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