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.
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  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


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