3.4. Removing Exchange from Active Directory
Problem
You need to remove all traces of Exchange from Active Directory.
Solution
Using a graphical user interface
Prior to removing Exchange from Active Directory, you must uninstall Exchange 2000 or Exchange Server 2003 server. During the uninstall process, ensure that the Exchange System Manager MMC is not in use on the server.
Insert the Exchange 2000 or 2003 installation CD-ROM into the CD drive of the server (the installation CD-ROM must match the version of Exchange Server that you will be uninstalling).
Go to Start→ Run→ Browse and browse to the \setup\i386 directory; highlight setup.exe and click Open.
In the Open dialog box, select OK.
The Exchange installation wizard will launch; click Next.
In the Action column, select Remove next to the top-level Microsoft Exchange listing.
If a dialog box opens with details on why you cannot uninstall the server, note the items listed and resolve each item.
Click Next; review the Installation Summary listing and click Next again.
During the uninstall process, respond OK to the prompt notifying you that your Exchange information will be removed from Active Directory.
Click Finish.
If there are any Exchange 5.5 servers, use the Exchange 5.5 Administrative program to connect to each 5.5 server in the site the Exchange 2000 server was linked to and check to see if there are any references to the Exchange 2000 server. If there are any references to the Exchange 2000 server you need to remove, delete them by ...