Restore Exchange when Priv1.edb is damaged

Recently one of our clients experienced loss of their important email data. Our client was not able to mount the priv1.edb file on Exchange Server that had all of his email data. After a lot of discussion over this issue, we came to a conclusion that we thought, might have led to this data loss situation. He recently upgraded from MS Exchange Server 5.5 to Exchange Server version 2000. Often due to improper up-gradation (as Microsoft suggests), users come across the situation of damage in priv1.edb and pub.edb files and land up in serious trouble. We promised to help our client and in the mean time, we started our R&D to look out for other possible reasons that might have had led to this current data loss situation of our client. Here is the process by which you can recover your important data in priv1.edb or pub.edb files: 

First of all, if you come across such a situation where your priv1.edb is damaged and you have a recently updated backup of your EDB database, then we suggest you to recover EDB using your backup. Check for a recently updated backup so that you don’t have to look out for an alternative to repair the corrupt file. And if you don’t have a backup, then you need to try recovering your data using a number of EDB repair utilities that Microsoft has to offer. However, if in case the backup of your data is missing, the only way left to get your important data back is by getting your file repaired. Let’s start the repair process with some useful tools Microsoft has to offer (although most of the times, these don’t work):

If priv1.edb is damaged and pub.edb files some error messages start appearing.  Make a note of the error messages and event ID that occurred while mounting the EDB file.

To resolve them, use of DS/IS Consistency Adjuster is suggested; DS/IS Consistency Adjuster is devised to run on both public as well as private information stores. Using this tool you can perform this recovery operation on another server, or if you removed or reinstalled Exchange Server on this server and do not have a working copy of the Dir.edb. In order to perform recovery operation using this utility, you need to re-create any distribution lists and memberships to those lists that were lost.

After performing this operation, you can expect Server to work and users will start receiving emails. However, you are able to retrieve your emails but there are other issues that you need to troubleshoot, and then we suggest you to use the Exmerge.exe tool to export all the user mailboxes to PST file. This will help you merge the PST files to user mailboxes in a new Priv1.edb file. 

But again, we were looking for something that could help us retrieve the emails that were lost. In order to retrieve the previous data and restore Exchange when priv1.edb is damaged, rely on third party Exchange Server repair software. Why? Let us understand this in detail; the best part of this third party software is that these tools offer you the flexibility of free evaluation that saves you from the horror of wasting money on useless crap.

You may try about 20 of the Restore Exchange tools available online, but choose the one that may help you to restore Exchange when priv1.edb is damaged. Try the evaluation version of Exchange Repair to recover your previous emails and check the accuracy of the tool. But before you select any third restore Exchange tool, let me remind you a few points to ponder:

Before you try repairing the corrupt file, make a copy of your file at a different location 

Always try its free evaluation version first and check its accuracy

Check its reviews and customer satisfaction

 Look out for discount offers available (most of the companies claim guaranteed results or offer the money back) So don’t panic when your data is lost, stay alert, look for possible rescue procedures online and select the one that suits you