Symptoms

The recovery of an Exchange database to original location fails with:

Error code: 254
Module: 91
LineInfo: 0x7A0C574AD2E3F5C3
Fields: {"$module":"arx_agent_fork_vsa64_12960"}
Message: It is not allowed to overwrite database <database> during recovery.

Cause

The This database can be overwritten by a restore option for this Exchange database is disabled. This is the embedded protection of Microsoft Exchange Server from accidental overwriting of its databases.

Solution

To resolve this issue, ensure that the database can be overwritten during recovery. Perform the following actions before starting the recovery process.

To enable the This database can be overwritten by a restore option on Exchange Server 2013 or 2016:

1. Open Exchange admin center.
2. Select Databases, and then click to select the mailbox database you want to recover.
3. Click Edit to configure the attributes of a mailbox database.
4. Navigate to the Maintenance tab.
5. Mark the This database can be overwritten by a restore check box.

To enable the This database can be overwritten by a restore option on Exchange Server 2007 and Exchange Server 2010:

1. Start the Exchange Management Console.
2. Under Server Configuration, select Mailbox.
3. In the Database Management pane, right-click the database that you want to recover, then click Properties.
4. Go to the General tab for Exchange Server 2007 or the Maintenance tab for Exchange Server 2010.
5. Mark the This database can be overwritten by a restore check box.

To enable the This database can be overwritten by a restore option on Exchange Server 2003:

1. Start the Exchange System Manager.
2. Expand Administrative Groups (if applicable).
3. Expand Servers, expand <Server Name>, expand <Storage Group>.
4. Right-click the database that you want to recover, then click Properties.
5. Go to the Database tab.
6. Select the This database can be overwritten by a restore check box.