How to Uninstall Exchange 2010

In this article, we will discuss how to uninstall Exchange 2010 manually. Please keep in mind that you should attempt the steps listed in this article only when the conventional methods of removing Exchange 2010 fail. Microsoft recommends that the best way to uninstall Exchange 2010 is via the Add or Remove Programs utility. In case you are successful in removing Exchange 2010 via Add or Remove Programs, you don’t need to perform the steps listed below.

In some cases, you may be unable to remove Exchange via Add or Remove programs. If that is the case, you can manually uninstall Exchange 2010.

Before starting the uninstallation process, you need to perform certain essential tasks.

What you need to do before uninstalling Exchange 2010

  1. Take Exchange Database Flat file Copy.
  2. Take System State Backup of Active Directory.
  3. Run ExBPA Report. In addition, export this report for future reference.
  4. Make a note of Organization names, MRM Details, MRM Retention Tag Details, Mailbox Database names, MRM Retention Policy Details, OWA Mailbox Policy details, Exchange Active sync, MRM Retention Policy Details, OWA Mailbox Policy details, Exchange Active sync, Mailbox Policy details, Email Address Policy Details, etc.
  5.  Perform a registry backup. Either use a reliable registry cleaning software such as RegGenie to back up the registry automatically, or back up the registry manually by using the File>Export command in the Registry Editor Window.

After completing the aforementioned steps, proceed with the Exchange 2010 manual uninstallation process.

Stop and disable all Exchange related services

To achieve this, first log on to your Exchange server and ensure that Exchange Management Shell and Exchange Management Console are closed.

Next, perform the following steps:

  1. Click Start>All Programs>Administrative Tools>Services.
  2. In the right-pane of the Services window, locate and right-click Microsoft Exchange Active Directory Topology Service.
  3. Click Stop.
  4. Double-click the service you stopped, i.e. Microsoft Exchange Active Directory Topology Service.
  5. In the General tab, select Disabled from the Startup type drop down list.
  6. Click Apply and then click OK.
  7. Repeat steps 2 to 6 for the following services:

    8. Microsoft Exchange Address Book
    Microsoft Exchange Search Indexer
    Microsoft Exchange RPC Client Access
    Microsoft Exchange Replication Service
    Microsoft Exchange Protected Service Host
    Microsoft Exchange POP3
    Microsoft Exchange Monitoring
    Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Replication Service
    Microsoft Exchange Mailbox Assistants
    Microsoft Exchange Mail Submission Service
    Microsoft Exchange Throttling
    Microsoft Exchange System Attendant
    Microsoft Exchange Speech Engine
    Microsoft Exchange Service Host
    Microsoft Exchange Server Extension for Windows Server Backup
    Microsoft Exchange Information Store
    Microsoft Exchange Anti-spam Update
    Microsoft Exchange EdgeSync
    Microsoft Exchange File Distribution
    Microsoft Exchange Forms-Based Authentication
    Microsoft Exchange IMAP4
    Microsoft Exchange Transport
    Microsoft Exchange Transport Log Search
    Microsoft Exchange Unified Messaging
    Microsoft Search (Exchange Server)

  8. Restart the computer.

Delete Exchange 2010 registry entries

  1. Open the Registry Editor window.
  2. Locate and right-click COMPUTER /HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /SOFTWARE / MICROSOFT / EXCHANGE
  3. Click Delete.
  4. Repeat steps 2 and step 3 for the following registry entires:
    • COMPUTER /HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /SOFTWARE / MICROSOFT / EXCHANGESERVER
    • COMPUTER /HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE /SYSTEM /CURRENTCONTROLSET /SERVICES /MSEXCHANGE* (Everything Starts with MSExchange)
    • COMPUTER / HKEY_CURRRENT_USER / SOFTWARE / MICROSOFT / EXCHANGESERV

Rename Exchange Server folder

  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Browse to %Program Files%Microsoft.
  3. Rename the Exchange Server folder to Exchange Server Old.
  4. Restart the Exchange 10 Server.

Remove Microsoft Exchange Related Products

To achieve this, we recommend you download the Windows Installer Clean Up utility and install it on your Exchange Server. Next, run the program and remove the following:

  Microsoft Exchange 2007 Enterprise Anti-Spam Signature
  Microsoft Exchange Client Language Pack
  Microsoft Exchange 2007 Enterprise Block List Update
  Microsoft Exchange 2007 Standard Anti Spam-filter Update
  Microsoft Exchange Full text indexing Services
  Microsoft Exchange Server
  Microsoft Full Text Indexing Engine for Exchange

Remove Active Directory Objects

  1. Go to Primary Domain Controller and open ADSIEDIT.
  2. Right Click ADSIEdit, click Connect to, and then connect to Default Naming Context.
  3. Delete the following objects

    4. DC=Domain,DC=Com -> OU=Microsoft Exchange Security Groups
    DC=Domain,DC=Com -> CN=Microsoft Exchange System Objects

  4. Again, right Click ADSIEdit, click Connect to, and then connect to Default Naming Context.
  5. Delete the following objects:

    6. CN=Configuration,DC=Domain,DC=Com -> CN=Services -> CN=Microsoft Exchange
    CN=Configuration,DC=Domain,DC=Com -> CN=Services -> CN=Microsoft Exchange Autodiscover