How To Restore Exchange 2010 Database from Windows Backup

To know how to Restore Exchange 2010 database from backup file? Go for Windows Backup method for Exchange 2010, 2007 and 2003 versions. To Backup and Restore Database in Exchange 2013 and 2016 again you need to use both Powershell command with Exchange Management Shell

Steps to Restore Microsoft Exchange 2010 Database From Backup

To save data from getting lost people take backup of their data. Creating backup is an easy process but when it comes to restoring, it becomes a tricky task to perform. This article is a combination of two methods that will help a user to restore Exchange 2010 database from backup. The following methods are:

• Exchange 2010 Mailbox Database Backup and Restore with Windows Server Backup
• Backup and Restore Exchange Server 2010

Why Backup of Exchange Database Necessary?

In order to keep valuable data safe and secure, users create the backup. Many situations are faced by users in which their data is at the risk of getting lost. So, if they have taken backup of their data earlier then they will not have to face the issues related to data loss. Some of the situation when users data is at risk are:

• When a Hard drive crashes
• A user may delete the file accidentally
• User files may become corrupt
• A user may want to upgrade to a new machine and need to transfer his/her data files
• Restore Exchange 2010 Database From Windows Server Backup

Note: An Exchange Server allows to save the mailboxes using the Backup utility, complete process divide into 2 sections:

• Installing Windows Server Backup on Windows Server
• Backing Up an Exchange 2010 Mailbox Database
• Restoring an Exchange 2010 Mailbox Database from Backup 

Step 1: Installing Windows Backup Exec on Windows Server 

By default Windows Server Backup is not installed so first, you have to install it. Run the following commands by opening an elevated PowerShell session:

PS C:\> Import-Module servermanager

PS C:\> Add- WindowsFeature backup

Now, from the Administrative Tools menu, launch the Windows Server Backup Exec.


Step 2:  Backing Up an Exchange 2010 Mailbox Database

NOTE: The server that will run the backup is a DAG member. First, a registry change is required as you are using Windows Server Backup. DAG (Database Availability Group) is a high availability (HA) and data recovery feature of Exchange Server 2010.

1. Click on the Backup Once option given in the Windows Server Backup window
2. If there is no existing schedule backup is on this server, then Different Options is the only selection you have to go for. Click on Next to continue.
3. Now, you have to select the type of configuration, here Custom configuration is selected. Click on Next button.
4. Click on the Add Items button to open the selections dialog
5. For example, the mailbox database is on volume D:, while the transaction logs are on volume C:, both the volumes are selected.
6. Just hit OK button to close the dialog.
7. Now, click on the Advanced Settings button.
8. Click on the VSS Settings tab and make sure that VSS full backup is chosen. Hit OK and then Next to continue.
9. You can store back up on either a local drive or a remote network share. Here local drive is selected for backup.
10. Now, you have to select the volume to back up the Exchange 2010 mailbox database. Click Next to continue.
11. Note: You can’t choose a volume that is a part of the backup selections list
12. When your selections are done, Click on the Backup button to start the backup.
13. When the backup is complete, click the Close button.
14. Just verify that backup was successfuly restored from Exchange 2010 Mailbox

STEP 3: Restore Exchange 2010 Database From Backup

1. Just for demonstration, the database files are deleted and the mailbox database has been dismounted. Now, the mailbox needs to be recovered from the previous good backup
2. But first, you need to mark the mailbox database as restorable
3. Now, you have to open the properties of the mailbox database in the Exchange Management Console.
4. Click on the Maintenance tab and tick the box This database can be overwritten by a restore
5. Now, in Window Server Backup click on Recover to start the Recovery Wizard
6. In this case, the previous backup is stored on the local server. Click Next to continue
7. You can see a calendar is displayed with all the dates that backup occurred. Choose the backup that you want to restore from. Click Next to continue
8. Select the recovery type as Application and click on the Next.
9. Tick the box if you don’t want to roll the database forward. Click Next to continue.
10. Now select the location where you want to recover the lost database. So, select Recover to Original Location. Click Next to continue.
11. To proceed, click Restore to begin the recover
12. When the restore is complete, click on Close

To cross check that restoration process from exchange database from backup operation has taken place, go to Application Event Log on the server

1. The restore has begun
2. The restore has completed successfully
3. Then the existing transaction log files are replayed into the database to roll it forward
4. Mailbox database has mounted finally
5. Mailbox database has now been recovered

 Alternative method to restore exchange database 2010 from backup using Exchange Recovery Tool 

Method-2: Backup and Restore Exchange Server 2010

In this method to restore Exchange Database from Backup stored in PST format, we have to create a shared folder and need to use " Import/Export " Wizard of Exchange. Complete process divided into 2 sections.

• Create a Shared Folder and assign its access permission to Exchange Trusted Subsystem
• Assign Management Role to User (Administrator)
• Run Export and Import Command

STEP 1: Create a Shared Folder and Assign Access Permission

• In installation drive of Exchange server create a folder
• Open the folder properties and select Security tab and click on Edit button
• Now, click on Advanced button and add user
• Select Exchange Trusted Subsystem from the list of user and click on OK button
• Now, assign edit permission to it
• Again go to Properties of the created folder and click on the Sharing tab >> Advanced Setting tab
• Go to Advanced Sharing and click on Permission and assign complete access to everyone

STEP 2: Assign Management Role to User 

1. Click on Start menu and go to Exchange Management Shell (EMS)
2. Now run the following command in the Shell.

New-ManagementRoleAssignment –Role “Mailbox Import Export” –User “Domain\Administrator”


STEP 3:  Run Export and Import Command

Make sure that there is enough space available in the drive to restore the Database of Exchange Again.

1.  The command for Exchange Server Backup:

New-MailboxExportRequest–Mailbox abcdef –FilePath \\ServerName\abc\abcdef.pst

Note: abcdef is the name of the mailbox. abcdef.pst is the new pst file name in which backup will be present after the backup process

2. Now, check mailbox Export Process Status

Get-MailboxExportRequest | Get-MailboxExportRequestStatistics

3. When execution of the above command is done go to the shared folder which you had created and check to new exported mailbox PST file.

4. The command for Exchange Server Restore:

New-MailboxImportRequest –filepath \\ServerName\abc\abcdef.pst -mailbox newabcdef

5. You can also check the restore status after execution of the command by the following command:

Get-MailboxImportRequest

After the execution of all the steps, you will be able to restore exchange 2013 database from backup.

Final Observation

To backup and restore the Database within Exchange Application long and time-consuming are available. If any Exchange File stored in the Local system then a user can Exchange Recovery tool, utility not only restore exchange database from backup again but also solve any issue related to corruption in Exchange File.