Share via

Uninstalling Exchange server error

Diane PALISCAK 1 Reputation point
2021-08-30T14:54:48.407+00:00

I am trying to uninstall an exchange server as it is no longer needed. It never had a database, just used for backup purposes for a third party back up service. i removed it from the DAG, and when I go to uninstall Exchange I receive this error:

Error:
This computer is responsible for expanding the membership of 1 distribution groups. These group must be assigned to another server before Setup can continue.

(For the record, I am clicking uninstall, not setup)

I have set the expansion server to Null. When I run "Get-DistributionGroup -ResultSize Unlimited | select name,expansionserver" A list of distribution groups are retuned with the the server column empty and a watson dump error at the end:

WARNING: An unexpected error has occurred and a Watson dump is being generated: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

  • CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Get-DistributionGroup], NullReferenceException
  • FullyQualifiedErrorId : System.NullReferenceException,Microsoft.Exchange.Management.RecipientTasks.GetDistributionGroup
  • PSComputerName :

Any ideas as how to find the orphaned distro group?

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.
7,503 questions
0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Xzsssss 8,861 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor
    2021-08-31T06:33:30.333+00:00

    Hi @Diane PALISCAK ,

    What is the version of your Exchange server?
    I have never got this error for Exchange 2013 and Exchange 2016 or upper versions.

    I found an method about clearing the legacyExchangeDN, check the follow steps and see if these could help:

    Using ADSIEdit, connect to the Configuration naming content.
    Navigate to the Servers container.

    CN=Services
    CN=Microsoft Exchange
    CN=OrganizationName
    CN=Administrative Groups
    CN=Exchange Administrative Group (GUID)
    CN=Servers
    Right click on the relevant Exchange Server (e.g. CN=Ex1) and edit the properties.

    Find the legacyExchangeDN attribute, replace the value with your server name such as Ex1.

    Best regards,
    Lou

    If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.