Information Store does not start with Event ID 145 (241855)

SYMPTOMS

The Microsoft Exchange Server information store may not start, or, if it is already running, it may stop responding. The following event may be logged:

Event ID: 145
Source: ESE97
Category: General
Description: MSExchangeIS ((%pid%) ) The database engine could not access the file called %database path%\edb.log.

The file that the event lists may be any file in the database folder.

CAUSE

A program has the file that the event lists locked open. Backup and antivirus software may lock files open. To verify that the file is locked open:

Log on to the Exchange Server computer using the administrator account.
Create a Test folder on drive C.
At a command prompt, type the following:
copy database path\edb.log c:\test

The file is locked open if the following error message is displayed:

The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.

RESOLUTION

Configure the AV, backup or other software so that it does not directly access any of the data files on the Exchange server. It is recommended that you exclude all \exchsrvr directories from being scanned by file-based virus scanning software. Exchange aware virus scanning software do not access the files directly and do not cause this problem.

If you intend to backup the Exchange server files, stop all of the Exchange services first. You can use an Exchange aware backup product to back up the Exchange databases while online without causing any file contention problems.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about antivirus software and Exchange Server, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

328841 Exchange and antivirus software