How to Fix Exchange Dirty Shutdown State? Simple Solution

Microsoft Exchange database is the crucial part of an Exchange Server which stores all emails, calendars, contacts, notes, tasks, etc. of a user mailbox. But sometimes due to various issues and errors, the Exchange database goes into a Dirty Shutdown state. And as a result, the EDB file becomes inaccessible creating issues for the user.

There are some scenarios due to which the database goes into dirty shutdown such as:

• Sudden power failure
• Malware or trojan attack on the server
• Storage space issues in Exchange
• Exchange Server crash or down

And many more…

Most probably, the Exchange 2010, 2013, and 2016 database dirty shutdown state occurs when the transaction log files are not committed to the Exchange database. As we all know how much log files are important to the MS Exchange database. It records each and every event as well as communication that occurred in the database.

When Exchange log files aren’t detached or disconnected from the database then it goes into a dirty shutdown state. Moreover, if the transaction log file completely dismounts to its Exchange database then the state of the EDB is in a clean shutdown.

Common Exchange Database Dirty Shutdown State Errors

Following are the various Exchange errors that occur when the Exchange 2016, 2013 or 2010 database goes in a dirty shutdown state:

• Error MapiExceptionNetworkError Unable To Mount Database “(hr=0x80040115, ec=-2147221227)”
• Unable to mount database “(hr=0x80004005, ec=-528)”
• Exchange database wasn’t shutdown cleanly (Dirty Shutdown)

How to Fix Exchange DB Dirty Shutdown State?

One can also go for the in-built utility provided by Microsoft i.e. ESEUTIL to resolve the Exchange Dirty Shutdown error. Users can use this tool to perform Soft Recovery (eseutil /r) and Hard Recovery (eseutil /p) in the Exchange database. So, that they can able to mount the database again. But before fixing the error, there are certain points that users should keep in mind:

• Always keep a backup of Exchange Database and Streaming Media File along with log files.
• Keep enough space in the system to perform this task.

Use ESEUTIL to Resolve Exchange Dirty Shutdown State

1. First check the state of the database whether it is in Clean or Dirty Shutdown by using the command below:

Output:

2. Repair Exchange Database Dirty Shutdown by using the command given below:

This command will bring back the Exchange database into a Clean Shutdown state in case of minor corruption issues.

3. Again check the state of the database and if it is still in a dirty shutdown state, then the user will have to perform a hard repair on the database:

Note: Using this command users may lose their crucial data. Instead of this, you can use the advanced software provided in the following segment of this write-up. It easily recovers severely damaged Exchange database files with no data loss.

4. Now users have to defrag Exchange mailbox database by using eseutil /d command:

Then the Exchange database will be back in a Clean state and you can mount the DB back in the Exchange Server.

Users can also use the ISINTEG utility to remove Exchange 2010, 2013, 2016 database dirty shutdown state by using the cmdlet given below:

Limitation Of ESEUTIL Utility

• Requires hands-on experience and in-depth technical knowledge.
• Time-consuming and need large space to perform this method.
• It is not possible to predict how much data will be lost while using this solution.

Smart Way to Repair Exchange DB Dirty Shutdown State

You can use the advanced Exchange Mailbox Recovery Tool which saves your precious time by recovering and repairing corrupted/damaged offline or dismounted Exchange database files in a simplified way. It provides two scanning options i.e. (Quick & Advance scan) which is capable enough to repair EDB file corruption issues.

The advance scanning option of this utility also recovers hard deleted .edb file data items as well. So, now users can use this option to recover deleted mailboxes after the retention period. This utility export the recovered and healthy private mailboxes & public folders directly to the Live Exchange Server, Office 365, and PST, MBOX, MSG, HTML, PDF, and EML file formats.

Download Now Purchase Now

Key Features of the Automated Software

• Recover & Repair Public and Private offline/dismounted EDB file
• Preview Microsoft Exchange mailbox data items before conversion
• Extract mailbox from EDB File Exchange 2013, 2016, 2019 version
• Preserve the actual folder structure and keep metadata intact
• Categories and Date filter option convert select Exchange data
• Remove encryption from Exchange mailbox i.e. (SMIME/OpenPGP) in bulk
• Compatible with all versions of MS Exchange Server and Windows OS

Bringing It All Together

This write-up provides detailed information to resolve Exchange’s dirty shutdown state via ESEUTIL utility. Although this utility doesn’t guarantee that your database will be back in a clean shutdown state without any data loss, it is still a useful solution provided by Microsoft. However, if you want a trusted solution that offers a foolproof solution to fix corruption issues without any data loss, then SysTools Software should be your first choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the common reasons why the Exchange database goes into a dirty shutdown state?

A. There may be ‘n’ number of reasons for your Exchange database going into a dirty shutdown state. Some of the most common factors are described below:

• Hardware Failure
• Server Crashes
• Power Outage
• Insufficient Disk Space
• Software related issues

Despite the aforementioned reasons, there might be some other factors as well depending on various situations.

Q. What are the potential risks that I can face in case of Exchange Server dirty shutdown?

A. When an Exchange database is in a dirty shutdown state, then there might be chances of database corruption, data loss, and inability to mount database to the Server. Hence, you need to make sure that the Exchange DB remains in a clean shutdown.

Q. How can I fix the Exchange database dirty shutdown state?

A. In order to get your database out of a dirty shutdown, you need to perform repair operations on the Exchange database. You can do this either by running eseutil command or by using the professional and automated solution specifically designed for successful recovery operations.

Q. Is there a chance of data loss if I perform recovery during Exchange dirty shutdown state?

A. Yes, there are certain chances of data loss while performing recovery in case of a highly corrupted Exchange database. However, you can minimize this risk by keeping a backup copy of your database and using a professional tool to perform a recovery job.

Q. How long would the recovery process take to resolve Exchange database dirty shutdown?

A. The time taken to fix Exchange database’s dirty shutdown state majorly depends on the size of the database, the corruption level in the database, and the recovery method you choose. If you prefer a quick and efficient process, we would recommend you go with the aforementioned utility.

Q. Do I need to create a backup copy of my database before attempting recovery from a dirty shutdown?

A. Absolutely Yes! Creating a backup of your database is always recommended before performing recovery or any other critical operations. This practice makes sure that you always have a rollback plan in case things don’t go as planned.