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Public Folders

Public folders are repositories of information that can be shared among users. These folders reside in the public information store on a Microsoft Exchange Server computer and can be replicated. When you make a change in a public folder, that change is copied to every replica of the folder that exists throughout the Microsoft Exchange Server organization.

Public folder problems are usually related to network connectivity, replication, or permissions.

You can't access a public folder.

Reasons Actions

The server with the replica of the public folder is not running. Determine the home server for the public folder, and verify that the server is running.

A replica of the public folder is on a server in a site that can't be reached by the client network protocol. Determine what router, bridge, or gateway prevents the passage of the user's network protocol. Add the missing network protocol to the router, or add an acceptable network protocol to the user's computer.

A replica of the public folder is on a server in a site where affinities have not been established. Use the information store site configuration Public Folder Affinity property page to establish affinities.

You do not have permissions to access the folder. Use the e-mail client to grant permissions to access the public folder.

You lost the connection to the server. Restart the client.

Reasons	Actions
The server with the replica of the public folder is not running.	Determine the home server for the public folder, and verify that the server is running.
A replica of the public folder is on a server in a site that can't be reached by the client network protocol.	Determine what router, bridge, or gateway prevents the passage of the user's network protocol. Add the missing network protocol to the router, or add an acceptable network protocol to the user's computer.
A replica of the public folder is on a server in a site where affinities have not been established.	Use the information store site configuration Public Folder Affinity property page to establish affinities.
You do not have permissions to access the folder.	Use the e-mail client to grant permissions to access the public folder.
You lost the connection to the server.	Restart the client.

You can't view a public folder in the hierarchy.

Reasons Actions

The public folder does not exist in your site or has not been replicated to your site. Use the public information store Instances property page to add the public folder to the list to be replicated to this server.

No affinities were assigned to the public folder. Use the information store site configuration Public Folder Affinity property page to establish affinities.

The public folder is replicated in the site, but directory replication has not occurred. If the folder was just added to the site, check the public information store Replication Schedule property page for the next scheduled replication. If the folder is still not visible after replication, increase the diagnostics logging level of the Replication category group, and then check the Windows NT application event log for public folder replication errors.

Reasons	Actions
The public folder does not exist in your site or has not been replicated to your site.	Use the public information store Instances property page to add the public folder to the list to be replicated to this server.
No affinities were assigned to the public folder.	Use the information store site configuration Public Folder Affinity property page to establish affinities.
The public folder is replicated in the site, but directory replication has not occurred.	If the folder was just added to the site, check the public information store Replication Schedule property page for the next scheduled replication. If the folder is still not visible after replication, increase the diagnostics logging level of the Replication category group, and then check the Windows NT application event log for public folder replication errors.

You can't send mail to a public folder.

Reasons Actions

The public folder is hidden from the Address Book. Use the Administrator program to check the Hide From Address Book option in the public folder's Advanced property page.

The public folder does not have permission to create messages. In the General property page of the public folder, choose Client Permissions, and then select Create Items.

Mail is returned because this user is excluded from sending to public folders. Use the Administrator program to check the Reject Messages From option in the Delivery Restrictions property page.

Reasons	Actions
The public folder is hidden from the Address Book.	Use the Administrator program to check the Hide From Address Book option in the public folder's Advanced property page.
The public folder does not have permission to create messages.	In the General property page of the public folder, choose Client Permissions, and then select Create Items.
Mail is returned because this user is excluded from sending to public folders.	Use the Administrator program to check the Reject Messages From option in the Delivery Restrictions property page.

Public folder replication isn't working.

Reasons Actions

Mail between sites is not scheduled for this time. Check the connection schedule. Send a test message to a mailbox or configure a link monitor.

Mail is not flowing between sites. Treat this as a mail problem between sites. Check link monitors and queues. If necessary, track public folder replication messages.

Public folder replication is not scheduled for this time. Check the public folder replication schedule.

The public information store or MTA on the source or destination server is not working. Use a link monitor to check the MTA and the server; use Performance Monitor to check the public information store.

Reasons	Actions
Mail between sites is not scheduled for this time.	Check the connection schedule. Send a test message to a mailbox or configure a link monitor.
Mail is not flowing between sites.	Treat this as a mail problem between sites. Check link monitors and queues. If necessary, track public folder replication messages.
Public folder replication is not scheduled for this time.	Check the public folder replication schedule.
The public information store or MTA on the source or destination server is not working.	Use a link monitor to check the MTA and the server; use Performance Monitor to check the public information store.