So, you have successfully moved all your users away from Exchange Server 2003, mail flow is redirected to the new server, the databases have been removed, recipient update policies removed and now you just need to know how to uninstall Exchange 2003 from the environment.
Well with the full version of Exchange you just simply go to Add or Remove Programs, select Exchange Server 2003 and hit the Change/Remove button.
However, there is no Exchange 2003 Add or Remove item with Small Business Server 2003, so where do you go?
The steps are quite simple and listed below.
Note: You will need the SBS 2003 CD set to perform this uninstall – specifically Disc 2.
- Open Add or Remove Programs from the Control Panel.
- Select Windows Small Business Server 2003 and click the Change/Remove button.
- The Microsoft Windows Small Business Server Setup dialog box appears. Click Next.
- Setup may detect requirements that have not been in met. In my case, it threw a warning that my server had more than two processors. This is fine. You may receive other warnings or alerts so review this list carefully, then check I acknowledge all warnings and click Next.
- The next screen will warn you to close any applications or windows. Do as this says before proceeding and click Next.
- On the Component Selection screen, hit the drop-down to the left of Exchange Server and select Remove. It is at this time Exchange will check if it can be successfully removed. You may receive errors at this point telling you what additional steps need to be taken before it can be uninstalled. Remediate any errors and restart setup (setup won’t recognize the remediation unless you close and reopen the uninstall wizard)
- If you receive no errors, then click Next.
- Exchange will then be removed.
- Reboot the server.
Kevin says
We have a server that was SBS 2003 but was upgraded to Server 2003. Neither Exchange 2003 nor “Windows Small Business Server 2003” appear in the Add/Remove Programs list. Suggestions?
Calvin Cowan says
Gareth: I’m trying to install and migrate to Exchange 2013 on a non SBS machine from an Exchange 2007 installed on and SBS2008 machine (that was upgraded from SBS 2003 with Exchange 2003). The Exchange 2007 install cannot move forward despite the fact that Exchange 2003 is in the same forest. Of course, its not but Exchange 2007 is. Will your process described above uninstall Exchange 2007 if “removing exchange” is done through using the installation media?
Gareth Gudger says
Hey Calvin. So to clarify, Exchange 2007 won’t uninstall because it still believes Exchange 2003 exists in the environment? Can you email a screenshot of the error? gareth@supertekboy.com. Like to see what all errors you are seeing.
Ben Lavine says
I performed the steps above however when I get to the point of “Removing” Exchange I get an error that states “You can not install this product on a computer running windows professional”. I’ve scoured the web and can only find a handful of people that have seen this however they seem to never have found a fix. Do you have any insight on this?
Gareth Gudger says
Hey Ben,
I can’t say I have seen this error before. Can you send me a screenshot to gareth@supertekboy.com?
I assume you have decommissioned all other components?
http://supertekboy.com/2014/04/19/migrating-exchange-2003-2010-part-v/