XADM: Troubleshooting Refer.mdb File Issues (258302)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.0
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5
This article was previously published under Q258302

SYMPTOMS

You may find a file called Refer.mdb in the Exchsrvr\Mdbdata folder, where the Priv.edb or Pub.edb file is located.

You may be unable to run Edbutil. You may also be unable to run the isinteg -fix command; it may cause an access violation or an unhandled exception. You may be unable to restore the information store from an online backup, and you may be unable to start the information store service. Either the Priv.edb file, the Pub.edb file, or both files may be inconsistent.

The following error message may be logged in the Microsoft Windows NT Event Viewer application event log:
Event ID: 37
Source:EDB
Type: Warning
Category: Logging/Recovery
Description: MSExchangeIS 245 Unable to read header of database.
x:\exchsrvr\mdbdata\Refer.mdb error -1206.
NOTE: Other possible event IDs that reference the Refer.mdb file are event ID 39, event ID 200, event ID 132, and event ID 145. Most commonly, however, the event ID that refers to this file is event ID 37.

CAUSE

This issue can occur if the Isinteg utility did not finish normally during the utility's last run.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, rename or remove the Refer.mdb file, because the Refer.mdb file may occasionally interfere with the normal operation of the information store process and the Jet database engine if the Refer.mdb file remains after you run Isinteg. Microsoft recommends that you rename the Refer.mdb file, and then move the Refer.mdb file to a temporary subdirectory for future reference if the issue returns.

To rename or remove the Refer.mdb file:
  1. Look for the Refer.mdb file first in the Exchsrvr\Mdbdata folder where the Priv.edb and Pub.edb files are located; the Priv.edb and Pub.edb files may be located in separate folders. If the Priv.edb and Pub.edb files are located in separate folders, check both folders. Microsoft recommends that you check the entire hard disk for the Refer.mdb file.
  2. Notice the date on the Refer.mdb file. It may indicate the time that Isinteg was last run. Look for anything unusual that may have occurred the last time that Isinteg was run, either anything unusual when Isinteg was run or anything unusual that may affect the information store. Look for known problems in the information store at the time that Isinteg was last run by checking the application event log in Event Viewer.
  3. If the information store does not start, check the consistency of the Priv.edb and Pub.edb files by using either the edbutil /mh command or the eseutil /mh command. If the databases are consistent and you simply remove or rename the Refer.mdb file, the information store may start, which enables you to run Eseutil or Isinteg successfully and run a backup restoration successfully.
  4. If the either the Priv.edb or Pub.edb file is not consistent, rename the Refer.mdb file, and then perform a soft recovery on the information store database by running either the edbutil /r command or the eseutil /r command.

    IMPORTANT: Do not run a soft recovery immediately after an online restoration because you may damage the restored databases.For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    231299 XADM: Information Store Returns Service-Specific Error 335544375

If either information store database is inconsistent and you are unable to bring the database to consistency by running a soft recovery, you may need to restore from online backup.

MORE INFORMATION

The Refer.mdb file is a temporary database that is created when you run Isinteg. Isinteg scans the tables in the information store database for errors. Isinteg builds a temporary Exchange Server database of reference counts, the Refer.mdb file, for the cross-reference tables of reference counts before Isinteg scans the tables. After Isinteg traverses all of the cross-reference tables, Isinteg compares the counts that it found to the counts in the reference database. If Isinteg is running with the fix switch, these counts are updated to their true values as determined by Isinteg.

Because the Refer.mdb file is a temporary database, it is normally automatically removed after Isinteg finishes. If the Refer.mdb file is on the server and Isinteg is not running, Isinteg did not finish normally when it was last run.

For additional information about the Refer.mdb file and troubleshooting problems with the Refer.mdb file, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

182081 XADM: Description of ISINTEG Utility

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:4/21/2005
Keywords:kbprb KB258302
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.