I used to know the definitive answer to this, but it has been pushed out of my head by more modern facts.
But, if I recollect properly, it's because Exchange 2000 and Exchange 2003 would replace parts of IIS (the SMTP and the NNTP server). A "known good" copy of the SMTP server and NNTP server files and DLLs are kept on the installation media. The Exchange specific versions are removed, the "normal" ones are put into place, and then normal update processes in Windows will then update the "known good" copies to current. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Maglinger, Paul Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2014 5:22 PM To: '[email protected]' Subject: RE: [Exchange] Exchange media necessary for 2003 uninstall That seems plausible. During the life of the server some of the files probably were changed due to patches and hotfixes as well. From: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Micheal Espinola Jr Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2014 1:30 PM To: exchange Subject: Re: [Exchange] Exchange media necessary for 2003 uninstall I'd guess that the local uninstall requirements cannot be met for some reason. Typically, from what I have seen, is that some files are missing - or perhaps damaged. -- Espi On Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 9:55 AM, Maglinger, Paul <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: I been looking for an answer to this but haven't found it yet. Why is it necessary to have the original Exchange 2003 installation CD to uninstall it? The nearest thing I've found is that it is need to uninstall "cleanly". Ok, but why did they make that a requirement? Not that I need it, I found our copy in our archives after trying the SP2, and then the SP1 CDs. Now I'm just wanting to satisfy my curiousity. Anyone know? -Paul
