Options for Deleting Mailboxes in Windows PowerShell in Live@edu

By default, when you delete a cloud-based mailbox using Windows PowerShell, the mailbox and the associated Windows Live ID are removed from use. What happens to the mailbox and the Windows Live ID?

• The mailbox is moved into a Deleted Objects container, which makes it inaccessible by users with any mail client, and after 30 days, it is permanently deleted.
  
• The Window Live ID that's associated with the deleted mailbox is removed from use and is inaccessible.
  

So, when you delete a mailbox in Windows PowerShell, you effectively remove the user's access to data associated with their Windows Live ID, such as Xbox Live points and Zune points, and access to data on Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live Groups, and Windows Live SkyDrive.

What if you don't like this default behavior? For example, what if you want to delete the user's mailbox only, but enable the user to still use the associated Windows Live ID?

You can use the Remove-Mailbox cmdlet in Windows PowerShell to implement the following options.

To learn how to install and configure Windows PowerShell and connect to the service, see Use Windows PowerShell in Exchange Online.

Run the following command:

Remove-Mailbox <Identity>

For example, to remove the mailbox and the associated Windows Live ID of a user named Tamara Johnston, run the following command:

Remove-Mailbox "Tamara Johnston"

Back to top

Run the following command:

Remove-Mailbox <Identity> -KeepWindowsLiveID

For example, to remove the mailbox and keep the associated Windows Live ID of a user named Tamara Johnston, run the following command:

Remove-Mailbox "Tamara Johnston" -KeepWindowsLiveID

Back to top

• Typically, a deleted mailbox is visible when you run the Get-RemovedMailbox cmdlet or on the Deleted Mailboxes page in the Exchange Control Panel. To access the Deleted Mailboxes page, select Manage My Organization > Users & Groups > Mailboxes > Deleted Mailboxes .
  If a deleted mailbox isn't recoverable, it won't appear on the list. When isn't a mailbox recoverable? See Deleted Mailboxes.
  
• To recover a deleted mailbox, see the following topics:
  
  • Recover a Deleted Mailbox
    
  • Recover a Deleted Mailbox in Windows PowerShell
    
• When you delete a mailbox and keep the Windows Live ID using the Remove-Mailbox cmdlet with the KeepWindowsLiveID parameter, you can associate the Windows Live ID with a new mailbox. See Create a New Mailbox for an Unassociated User ID.
  
• When you delete a mailbox and don't keep the Windows Live ID, you can recover the associated Windows Live ID when you recover the deleted mailbox. However, you need to change the password.