Quick Exchange 2010 Mailbox Export To PST Guide

A quick and easy guide to exporting a former employee's Exchange 2010 mailbox to archive or PST.

First, let's assume you have all your ducks lined up: healthy Active Directory (AD) and Exchange 2010 infrastructure is in place, and you have Exchange Administrator rights AND have Exchange PowerShell installed. One last thing, be sure to have a folder to export to. I like to keep it short. I created a E:\PSTs share on a large data drive. Be sure the folder props are shared + accessible in UNC style (\\server\foldershare). I have a monthly reminder to push these PSTs off site to our Cloud for archiving purposes.

Now, let's say an employee is 'let go'. Although disabling the AD account keeps the email flowing, I usually change the password, leave the account open. Forwarding is set up to a Manager or whoever is responsible Asap. I.T. folks need to push this sometimes else some critical emails will go into a black hole and you are on the hook!

Open Mailbox Properties, go to Mail Flow Settings, then Delivery Options. Sometimes Managers like to jump on the laptop to check the user's files and email (like local archives as well) so I just give them the new password. The former employee does not know the new password, so this is as good as a disable as far as VPN, email, remote access is concerned.

Anyway, after a decision is made to fully close down the account / mailbox open the Exchange PowerShell and type:

[PS] C:\Windows\System32> New-MailboxExportRequest -Mailbox username -FilePath \\ServerName\PSTs\USername.pst

Of course fill in the username or login name as needed as well as your share UNC. The PST should have the employee's username in it for organization purposes.

After a few minutes, depending on size, use these commands.

[PS] C:\Windows\System32> Get-MailboxExportRequest | Get-MailboxExportRequestStatistics

[PS] C:\Windows\System32>Get-MailboxExportRequest | Remove-MailboxExportRequest

It is best to verify that the PST can be opened within your Outlook. Be sure your user account has Full access to the PSTs folder from which you are opening - no need to copy the PST to your PC.
Outlook (2010) / File /Open / Open Outlook Data File
Again, assuming you have permissions to the PST folder, this works well.

Windows 8.1 3D Printing

First, Microsoft uses the Windows Phone (Nokia Lumia 1020) to unleash a monster 41 Mega Pixel Camera. Now they are using the 8.1 release to highlight 3D Printing. Of course many users will not much care nor need 3D printing, but the fact that Microsoft is targeting niche techies and graphic artist types with this phenomenal technology and capability is very promising. They are clearly going in the right direction by choosing specific goals and drilling the technologies home. In other words, they are nailing it in specific cases.

Oh, and 3D printing looks hella cool! And that is exactly the reaction Microsoft needs to generate more and more from potential customers, especially surrounding Windows 8.x technologies.

"A lot was going on at Microsoft's Maker Faire tent: massive robots were hurling themselves at one another, puppets were crashing cars and gamers were creating whole worlds. It was another innovation that took center stage, however. That wild and crazy leap forward — none other than Windows 8.1.
On a given day, the simple addition of the number one behind a decimal point wouldn't trump giant robots. But that is not this day, for this particular update to Microsoft's OS actually brings us something wonderful: 3D printing.
Bundled with bug fixes and the like is an interface that makes connecting and using your 3D printer as simple as plugging it in. Once your 3D printer is connected to your Windows PC, the OS detects the device as if it were something as old-hat as a traditional laserjet 2D printer. The appropriate drivers are downloaded and you're good to go. So toss out those software CDs and complex setup instructions and join Microsoft in the future."

Read it here:
http://www.dvice.com/2013-9-24/windows-81-offer-easy-intuitive-3d-printing-everyone

Lumia 1020 Phone Review

ZDNet review gives very good grades to the Lumia 1020. An Executive at work has one of these. They are very sleek.

http://www.zdnet.com/apple-iphone-5s-vs-nokia-lumia-1020-how-they-compare-7000020548/