You cannot stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service on a computer that is running Exchange Server 2003

When you try to stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service (IMAP4Svc) on a computer that is running Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• You cannot stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service.
• When you try to stop the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service, it may take longer than you expect.

This issue may occur if a user tries to connect to the Exchange 2003 computer at the same time that the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service is stopped.

You may be able to work around this issue by configuring the Microsoft Exchange IMAP4 service to stop before the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service (Store.exe) stops. To do this, follow these steps.

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

1. Click Start, click Run, type Regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IMAP4SVC
3. Right-click DependsOnService in the right pane, and then click Modify.
4. Press the DOWN ARROW key, type MSExchangeIS, and then click OK.
5. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.