Convert EDB to PST – Steps for Preserving Exchange Server Emails

Nowadays investigators have various mediums and methodologies to preserve email data from live running servers to accessible formats on investigation work-stations. Microsoft Exchange, which is the most popular emailing server in corporate follows up downtime while performing the investigation on its emails. Due to which it is important to convert EDB to PST. 

Corporate desktops, laptops, and server systems are the prime sources of evidence in digital investigation. Earlier, while collecting data from these sources, companies had to follow the server shut-down processes which brought downtime in businesses affecting the workflow.

This also carried negative impacts on the organizations where servers play an important role in preserving and managing databases. This not only ruined the businesses but also wasted precious time in making databases available for parsing of emails and other data.

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Collect Emails from Live Exchange Server to Outlook PST File

In order to make it possible to work on the email investigation of server-based emails, it is important to bring the emails from the server to more convenient platforms. Exchange emails can be accessed only when mounted on the server which is restricted in many aspects for an investigator’s perspective.

In such a situation, it is important to convert EDB to PST file or any other convenient accessible format which can be viewed and analyzed without any bindings.

Following Methods to Convert Exchange Server Emails 

1. Export copy of the suspect’s mailbox from Exchange Server by configuring an MS Outlook email client.
2. Mailbox Merge application also known as Exmerge can be utilized in order to convert Exchange EDB to Outlook PST file.
3. Exchange Management Shell in Exchange version 2007 can be utilized for exporting a copy of the Mailbox.
4. Extracting data from the backup of the Exchange Server “Information Store” from the complete backup of the server.
5. Creating a copy of database files to other media by dismounting the databases by putting off the Exchange Server temporarily.
6. A specialized commercial third-party utility like Exchange EDB to PST converter software application can be a perfect medium for EDB to Outlook Data File conversion.

Step-by-Step Method to Convert EDB to PST

Various scenarios like a large volume of mailboxes, potential risks towards logging in with suspect’s credentials, and unable to carve permanently deleted items or dumpster’s items can propel investigators to go for the professional help to attain complete mailbox in PST file.

Below mentioned steps are provided to convert Exchange EDB to Outlook PST file which can be then analyzed in detail

Step 1: Launch Exchange EDB to PST Converter software.

Step 2: Once the software is launched successfully, click on Add File available on the main menu.

This will open another window where you can add the offline/dismounted EDB files along with STM files (if available) to be converted to PST file. This software supports both public and private Exchange database file & users can use this tool to export public folder Exchange 2016, 2013, 2010 to the Outlook data file and other formats.

Step 3: When the EDB files are added to the software successfully, a full-fledged preview is provided of emails belonging to all the mailboxes available in the EDB file.

 Note: The dual scan mode option such as: Quick & Advance scan of this advanced utility recovers as well as repair corrupted Exchange database file in a hassle freeway. After recovery, users can easily export the recover EDB mailbox to PST file in a simplified way.

The software itself provides temporary access to all the emails which otherwise cannot be accessed without the Exchange server.

Step 4: Selective Export of emails can be done using this software.  Click on the Export option in order to convert offline Exchange EDB to Outlook PST file.

Also Read: How to Export Microsoft Exchange Emails from offline EDB file in an efficient way?

Step 5: Select Exchange database mailboxes >> Click on the PST export option >> Select the browse button to set target file path >> CLick on the export button

Finally, your Exchange database file is successfully converted to the PST file in an simplified manner.

Bringing IT All Together

The automated software unlocks the complexities at various stages and convert EDB to PST. After the complete conversion from the Exchange EDB to Outlook, the emails can be easily accessed without needing the server environment. The analysis of the PST files can be done precisely afterward. Users can also convert Exchange 2007 / 2010 / 2013 / 2016 EDB to PST by using this software.