EDB to PST Conversion using PowerShell Command Line Tool

This Article renders a brief overview of the EDB to PST conversion manually that illustrates the use of PowerShell command line tool and its significance.

Before we start EDB to PST conversion manually, let’s understand the basics of EDB and PST files respectively.

EDB or Exchange database file is the main repository of exchange server database, designed on a single client server architecture. It includes components like email messages, folders, attachment, etc.

PST file is the database file of MS Outlook where it stores entire its data like emails, tasks, contacts etc.

An EDB file format can be converted to a PST file format manually using PowerShell. A PowerShell is a command line tool & scripting language build on.Net framework that is used by Exchange administrator for the purpose of task automation.

Mechanisms to convert EDB TO PST manually by PowerShell:

In order to convert EDB to PST file format using PowerShell tool, it is recommended to conform to the following steps below:

• Add Snap-in in PowerShell by using the command given below:

  Add-PSSnapin microsoft.exchange.management.powershell.e2010

• Create a new folder on any of your local drive to save the converted exchange EDB to PST files
• Assign name to the folder and right click on it. After that click on the properties and select share folder.
• After that assign read/write permission and click on share button.
• Copy the path of shared folders and save it in notepad.
• On coming back to the PowerShell, run the command
• New-MailboxExportRequest –Mailbox mailbox name –File path filepath_name\name.pst

After the completion of the task, the exported PST file can be viewed from the destination folder created before.

DRAWBACKS OF EDB to PST CONVERSION MANUALLY:

Unhealthy EDB files can’t be converted.

Damaged or corrupted EDB files can’t be converted.

These commands does not work on encrypted and password protected EDB files.

You can’t use these commands on dismounted Exchange database

In order to overcome these drawbacks, it is recommended to use a solution provided by Exchange Experts. By using this solution exchange administrators can easily recover and convert the corrupted, dismounted, encrypted or password protected EDB files.

Conclusion:

In this article, I have explained powershell commands with which one can easily perform the conversion of Exchange EDB to PST file format. In case if you are facing any kind of difficulty while executing these commands, please comment.

I am a tech geek working in the field of data recovery and migration. I likes to write technical articles related to Exchange Server