The default rule in Out of Office Assistant does not work when you use ExMerge to import a .pst file in an Exchange 2000 Server organization

When a Microsoft Outlook user configures the default I am currently Out of the Office rule in Out of Office Assistant, the rule does not work in a Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server organization. This problem occurs when the following conditions are true:

• You use the Exchange Server Mailbox Merge Wizard (ExMerge.exe) to export a user's mailbox to a personal folders (.pst) file. When you export the mailbox, you select the Associated folder messages option.
• You use ExMerge to import the .pst file to another mailbox store. When you import the .pst file, you select the Associated folder messages option.

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

You must install Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Service Pack 3 (SP3) and the August 2004 Exchange 2000 Server Post-Service Pack 3 Update Rollup package before you apply this hotfix. For more information, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Restart requirement

You do not have to restart the computer after you apply the hotfix. However, the Microsoft Exchange Information Store service and all dependent services are restarted when you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Hotfix application information

You must apply the hotfix on the Exchange server to which you want import the user's .pst file before you import the user's .pst file. If you already imported the .pst file, you must delete the mailbox of the user. Then, you must permanently remove the mailbox before you apply the hotfix. After you apply the hotfix, you can use ExMerge to import the .pst file.

To delete the user's mailbox, follow these steps:

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.
2. Right-click the user whose mailbox you want to delete, and then click Exchange Tasks.
3. In the Exchange Task Wizard, if the welcome dialog box is displayed, click Next. If the welcome dialog box is not displayed, go to step 4.
4. Click Delete Mailbox, click Next two times, and then click Finish.

To permanently remove the user's mailbox, follow these steps:

1. Start Exchange System Manager.
2. Expand Administrative Groups, expand Your_Administrative_Group, and then expand Servers.
3. Expand Your_Server_Name, expand Your_Storage_Group, and then expand Your_Mailbox_Store.
4. Right-click Mailboxes, and then click Run Cleanup Agent.
5. In the right pane, right-click the user mailbox that is now marked with a red X, click Purge, and then click Yes.

To work around this problem, move the mailbox to another mailbox store. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Start the Active Directory Users and Computers snap-in.
2. Right-click the user whose mailbox you want to move, and then click Exchange Tasks.
3. In the Exchange Task Wizard, if the welcome dialog box is displayed, click Next. If the welcome dialog box is not displayed, go to step 4.
4. Click Move Mailbox, and then click Next.
5. Click Same Administrative Group Move, and then click Next.
6. In the Mailbox Store box, click the Your_Administrative_Group\Your_Store_Name to which you want to move the mailbox.
7. Click Next three times.
8. Wait for the task to complete, and then click Finish.

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