XADM: Client Cannot Open Public Folder, Folder Not Found on Instances Tab (250037)

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open a public folder in the public folder hierarchy by using an Exchange Client, the following error message may be displayed:

The folder could not be opened. The contents of this public folder are currently unavailable. Either the Microsoft Exchange Server computer servicing this public folder is down or the public folder has not been replicated to this site.

If you click the Instances tab in the public information store Properties dialog box on the Exchange Server computer where the folder is homed, the folder does not appear in either the left or right list.

CAUSE

Data inconsistencies may exist between the public information store and the directory on the same Exchange Server computer. For instance, the public information store may contain a new entry that has not been passed to the directory.

Clients may also receive this error message when replication between servers is not complete, as when a new public folder has not been replicated to a remote server or when the updating process of an existing public folder is not complete.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, run the DS/IS consistency adjuster.

IMPORTANT: If you run the DS/IS consistency adjuster, you may rehome public folders. Make sure that you understand the full functionality of the DS/IS consistency adjuster before you run the utility.

To run the DS/IS consistency adjuster:

In the Exchange Server Administrator program where the public folder is homed, open the server object.
Click the Advanced tab, click All Inconsistencies under DS/IS Consistency Adjustment, and then click Adjust.
Click the Instances tab on the public information store Properties dialog box. The folder should appear in the left list. Click Add to add the folder to the right list.

MORE INFORMATION

The DS/IS consistency adjuster is used to ensure that the directory and the information store are synchronized. It scans all of the objects in the information store and verifies that a corresponding directory object exists. If the directory object does not exist, one is created in the information store. Then the DS/IS consistency adjuster scans the directory to verify that each directory object has a corresponding information store object. If one does not exist, the directory object is removed.

To avoid rehoming public folders, get more information about the DS/IS consistency adjuster before you run the utility. For additional information about the DS/IS consistency adjuster, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

182979 XADM: Function and Effects of Running the DS/IS Consistency Adjuster

For additional information about what to do if you cannot access the public folder from the client after you run the DS/ISconsistency adjuster, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

179993 XCLN: Error Message: Contents of Public Folder Currently Unavailable