Applies to: Exchange Server 2007 SP3, Exchange Server 2007 SP2, Exchange Server 2007 SP1, Exchange Server 2007
Topic Last Modified: 2008-01-22

This topic explains how to use the Exchange Management Console and the Exchange Management Shell to disconnect a mailbox from its associated user account and remove the user from the Active Directory directory service. You can use the Exchange Management Shell to remove the mailbox.

Before You Begin

To perform this procedure, the account you use must be delegated the following:

Exchange Recipient Administrator role
Account Operator role for the applicable Active Directory containers

For more information about permissions, delegating roles, and the rights that are required to administer Exchange Server 2007, see Permission Considerations.

Procedure

To use the Exchange Management Console to remove a mailbox

Start the Exchange Management Console.
In the console tree, expand Recipient Configuration, and then click Mailbox.
In the result pane, select the mailbox you want to remove.
In the action pane, under the name of the mailbox, click Remove.
A warning appears asking, Are you sure you want to remove 'mailbox name'? Click Yes to remove the mailbox.

To use the Exchange Management Shell to remove a mailbox

To disconnect the mailbox for user "john" from John's user account and also delete the user account, run the following command:
Copy Code
Remove-Mailbox -Identity contoso\john
To delete the mailbox and the user account for John, run the following command:
Copy Code
Remove-Mailbox -Identity contoso\john -Permanent

	Copy Code
Remove-Mailbox -Identity contoso\john

	Copy Code
Remove-Mailbox -Identity contoso\john -Permanent

For detailed syntax and parameter information, see the Remove-Mailbox reference topic.

For More Information

For information about how to create a mailbox, see How to Create a Mailbox for a New User.
For information about how to disable a mailbox, see How to Disable a Mailbox.

For more information about disconnecting mailboxes, see the Microsoft Exchange Team blog article, How to deal with users leaving the Organization.

Note:
The content of each blog and its URL are subject to change without notice. The content within each blog is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. Use of included script samples or code is subject to the terms specified in the Microsoft Terms of Use.

For more information about the Exchange Management Shell, see Using the Exchange Management Shell.