Some problems that can occur with Microsoft Exchange Server, 2000 or 2003, involve the mailbox store or a public folder. Sometimes the problems are a result of attempts to mount either of those stores.

The error message you may receive will be similar to the following:

An internal processing error has occurred. Try restarting
the Exchange System Manager or the Microsoft Exchange
Information Store service, or both.
ID no: c1041724
Exchange System Manager

In the Application log the following event may be logged:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: MSExchangeIS
Event Category: General
Event ID: 9518
Date: date
Time: time
User: N/A
Computer: SERVERNAME
Description: Error 0xfffffc01 starting Storage Group
/DC=COM/DC=EXAMPLE/CN=CONFIGURATION/CN=SERVICES/
CN=MICROSOFT EXCHANGE/CN=FIRST ORGANIZATION/
CN=ADMINISTRATIVE GROUPS/CN=FIRST ADMINISTRATIVE GROUP/
CN=SERVERS/CN=ServerName/CN=INFORMATIONSTORE/
CN=FIRST STORAGE GROUP on the Microsoft Exchange Information
Store. Storage Group - Initialization of Jet failed

Administrators should take note of the Description field which lists the Error code number of 0xfffffc01. The error code will be produced if an incorrect drive letter was used for the log files or the Exchange database files. This usually happens if the drive letter has changed for either of those files.

It is also possible that the drives which contain the log files of the Exchange database files are being write access blocked. This can happen if antivirus software is running which may cause this problem. Administrators should temporarily shutdown the antivirus software and then try to mount the databases that are exhibiting problems. If there are no more problems then the next step would be to contact the antivirus software vendor and ask for the latest revisions and fixes.

If the problem still exists then it is most likely that the issue is caused by an incorrect drive letter set for the log files or the Exchange database files as previously mentioned. An administrator should confirm that there is a valid database path and a valid log file path. Exchange System Manager can be used for this process by following the steps outlined below:

1. Start the Exchange System Manager by clicking on Start and then selecting Programs. Next select Microsoft Exchange and click on System Manager.
2. You may need to expand the Administrative Groups if they are displayed. Find the administrative group that is exhibiting the problem.
3. Find and select the Servers that are showing the problem and then expand that selection.
4. Find and select the store that cannot be mounted and then right click on it and click the Properties field.
5. Go to the General tab and review both the path that is displayed in the Transaction log field and the path that is displayed in the System path field. If those paths are incorrect then you’ll need to locate the folder that contains the transaction log files or the database files. The default location for both sets of files is the following directory path:
   %PROGRAMFILES%Exchsrvrmdbdata
6. Next, click OK on the directory path.
7. Repeat steps 3 through 5 for each store group that appears and then confirm the paths for the transaction log files and the database files.
8. The paths for the transaction log files and database files should now be complete for each storage group. Next you’ll need to verify the database paths for each store in each storage group. You can do so by following the steps below:

• Expand a storage group such as the First Storage Group.
• Right-click the StoreName (ServerName), and then click Properties.
• Verify the path that appears in the Exchange database field by clicking on the Database tab. Next, verify the path that appears in the Exchange streaming database field.
• If any path is incorrect, click Browse to locate the correct folder for the database file. The Exchange database file (.edb) and the Exchange streaming database file (.stm) have a default location:
  %PROGRAMFILES%Exchsrvrmdbdata
• Click on OK
• Verify the paths for each mailbox store or public folder store that is present in each storage group by following steps 8b through 8e

Lastly, mount either the public folder store or the mailbox store.

Additionally the application log may show this error message:

Event ID: 9518
Event Type: Error
Event Source: MSExchangeIS
Event Category: General
Description: Error 0xfffffddc starting Storage Group
Path_of_Storage_Group on the Microsoft Exchange
Information Store. Storage Group -
Initialization of Jet failed.

The error message can occur if an attempt was made to mount a dismounted Exchange database in Exchange System Manager.