Exchange Mailbox Recovery after Accidental Deletion

Exchange mailbox recovery after accidental deletion is a crucial task for IT administrators. Accidental deletion of a mailbox can occur due to various reasons such as human error, malicious intent, or hardware failure. In this article, we will discuss the steps involved in recovering a deleted mailbox in Exchange.

Step 1: Identify the Deleted Mailbox

The first step in recovering a deleted mailbox is to identify the mailbox that has been deleted. You can do this by checking the Exchange Online Admin Center or by running a PowerShell script to search for the deleted mailbox.

Step 2: Restore the Mailbox from the Deleted Items Folder

If the deleted mailbox is still in the Deleted Items folder, you can restore it easily. To do this, log in to the mailbox of the user who deleted the mailbox and go to the Deleted Items folder. Right-click on the deleted mailbox and select the Restore option.

Step 3: Restore the Mailbox from the Recovery Database

If the deleted mailbox is not in the Deleted Items folder, you can restore it from the recovery database. The recovery database is a special database in Exchange that contains a copy of the mailbox database.

To restore the mailbox from the recovery database, you need to create a recovery database, mount it, and then restore the mailbox using the Exchange Management Shell (EMS). Here are the steps:

1. Create a new recovery database using the New-MailboxDatabase cmdlet in EMS.
2. Mount the recovery database using the Mount-Database cmdlet in EMS.
3. Restore the deleted mailbox using the New-MailboxRestoreRequest cmdlet in EMS.

Step 4: Export and Import the Mailbox Data

If the recovery database does not contain a copy of the deleted mailbox or if the mailbox cannot be restored from the recovery database, you can export the mailbox data to a .pst file and then import it into a new mailbox. Here are the steps:

1. Export the mailbox data to a .pst file using the New-MailboxExportRequest cmdlet in EMS.
2. Create a new mailbox for the user using the New-Mailbox cmdlet in EMS.
3. Import the .pst file into the new mailbox using the New-MailboxImportRequest cmdlet in EMS.

Step 5: Verify the Restored Mailbox

After restoring the mailbox, it is important to verify that it is functioning correctly. You can do this by logging in to the restored mailbox and checking the mailbox data, permissions, and settings.

Conclusion

Recovering a deleted mailbox in Exchange is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that the deleted mailbox is recovered efficiently and effectively. It is advisable to seek the assistance of a certified Microsoft partner to ensure that the recovery is carried out effectively and efficiently. Additionally, it is recommended to implement a robust backup and recovery strategy to minimize the risk of accidental deletion and ensure business continuity.