How to Deal With Exchange Database Corruption Using ExMerge?

Pooja Chaudhary | Updated On - December 02, 2022 |

Read time 3 minutes

Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Merge Program or ExMerge utility is used to extract mailbox data from one Exchange Server to PST and then merges it to another Exchange Server. So this tool is one of the most competent utility for Exchange migration requirements.

Steps for using ExMerge

1. Open ExMerge (from Exchsrvr\bin folder in Program Files).
2. A window with following options will appear in front of you:
   • Extract and Import (One step procedure)
   • Extract or Import (Two-step procedure)

   Select the second option, i.e. Extract or Import (Two-step procedure) and click Next.

3. Another window with following options will appear:
   • Extract data from an Exchange Server mailbox
   • Import data into an Exchange Server mailbox

   Now select the first option, i.e. Extract data from an Exchange Server mailbox and click Next.

4. Now give the required information about the source Exchange Server.
5. A window named Database Selection will appear. Select the required database.
6. Select the mailboxes from the list of mailboxes available on the server and click Next.
7. Next, specify the target directory, browse to store the migrated PST file and click Next.
8. Wait for the migration process to complete. A message will pop up when the operation completes. At the end click Finish.

ExMerge is a quick and easy solution. Its advantages are:

• Can be used for single, multiple or all the mailboxes.
• Users can back up single mailbox instead of entire database.

ExMerge has some limitations as well:

• Cannot recover mailboxes above 2 GB data.
• Cannot operate on a corrupt Exchange server.
• Does not support public folders.
• Can cause occasional errors

At times you may get an error while using ExMerge:

"Error configuring message service (MSPST MS) (MAPI_E_EXTENDED_ERROR) (CmapiSession::CreateEMSPSTProfile).
Error opening message store (MSEMS). Verify that the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service is running and that you have the correct permissions to log on. (0×8004011d)."

This can be due to incompatibility issues, the modified format of Outlook PST, PST privilege issues, corruption, etc. Sometimes the entire Exchange database can get corrupt due to the issues in ExMerge use.

ExMerge Alternatives

In many scenarios, ExMerge fails to migrate mailboxes to PST files or Exchange server due to the limitations discussed above. Then try using a professional software that can extract full data from corrupt EDB files as well. A popular Exchange Recovery tool for these requirements is Kernel for Exchange Server. It efficiently exports Exchange data to PST files and migrates mailboxes to live Exchange and Office 365. If you are getting error messages after the use of ExMerge, then also you can use this tool to access the inaccessible mailboxes.