Exchange 2010 mailbox removal also deletes AD account

http://exchangeserverpro.com/exchange-2010-difference-between-remove-and-disable-mailbox

  • Disable will remove the Exchange attributes for the user account but leave the user account in Active Directory.  The mailbox is then also left in the Exchange mailbox database until the retention period has lapsed, then it is removed permanently.
  • Remove will remove both the Exchange mailbox and the user account from Active Directory

Restoring deleted items from AD

http://dani3lr.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/tombsone-reanimation-using-adrestore-exe-and-adrestore-net/

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb963906

And GUI version

http://blogs.microsoft.co.il/files/folders/guyt/entry40811.aspx

I’ve used the GUI version and installed on my XP box that had the AD tools installed.  Then when in the ADRestore.net got it to run as a domain admin account, otherwise you’ll probably get no results back.  Seemed to work fine in restoring a deleted user (although we have several DCs and I only restored to one.  Think it needs to replicated to others to be totally working properly.  As odd things with password history on that account appear to be playing up now.  Only been a few mins so waiting for replication to see if issue continues.)