Exchange 2010 Troubleshooting: Exchange Management Console (EMC) Initialization failed

  • Article

Scenario

Exchange 2010 EMC works fine until a day when you launch it and get the error as shown below:

https://collaborationpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EMC1.png

There are 2 steps to fix this and a workaround to troubleshoot further.

Solution:

Step 1 is to open up the registry and navigate to the following key:

  • HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Exchangeserver\v14\AdminTools\NodeStructureSettings

Under the NodeStructureSettings key delete the value NodeStructureSettings (shown below)

https://collaborationpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EMC2.png

Step 2 is to remove the cached information under the user directory:

  • C:\Users\Username>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MMC

https://collaborationpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EMC3.png

After you have completed these 2 steps then try launch the EMC again. If it still fails you can continue to the workaround and carry on troubleshooting.

Workaround:

Launch the EMC again and click on Microsoft Exchange in the top left hand corner. You will see an option "Add Exchange Forest...", click on this, a new window will appear.

Enter in a name and then under the url you can enter the following:

  • http://FQDN ServerName/PowerShell

https://collaborationpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EMC4.png

Once you click the OK button you can now click on the name you just gave and you should see the following:

https://collaborationpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EMC5.png

The EMC is now getting all the information for the current user. Once done you should be able to browse the EMC like before:

https://collaborationpro.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/EMC6.png