Software to convert either EDB or BKF files to PST, MSG or EML files...

Question

We are currently running Exchange 2010 on Server 2008 servers which we back up with Symantec Backup Exec. Over the last few years, we've upgraded Exchange several times (from 5.5 to 2010) and have always used Backup Exec as the backup solution. At the end
of every year, we run a full backup that we then store indefintely. Recently, after upgrading from Exchange 2007 to 2010 and then subsequently upgrading Backup Exec from 12.5 to 2010 R2, we received a request from a user to recover several emails that had
been backed up under the older versions of Exchange and Backup Exec. We then discovered that Backup Exec (apparently) is unable to do granular restores from legacy versions. We've now decided that a good way to move forward would be to find software that could
extract/convert data directly from either the BKF file that Backup Exec generates or from an EDB database file backup. Using this method, we could simlply run an end-of-year backup that only backs up the database files (EDB) and, if the need arises, use the
software to extract messages from that to either a PST (which could then be re-imported to the users mailbox) or to message files that could be placed into the users mailbox. Does anyone have any recommendations for this type of software? Have done numerous
searches but some of the results look a bit dodgy. Any suggestions gladly appreciated. Thanks,
Adam

Answer 1

Have you looked at any third party tools?  I have used a product called Ontrac in the past to work with Public folder content. 
Try this vendor for more information on what is possible:
http://www.krollontrack.com/information-management/email-management-for-exchange/functionality-overview/
From that link:
      "Open, read and extract the data:
Opening Source Files: Open a source Exchange Database (EDB) and specify a target PST file or target server. With the additional
Agent for PST as Source, you can use a PST as the source file.
Extract Wizard: Read both private and public Exchange Information Store data from tape and disk backups. Extract Wizard reads EDB, STM and LOG files from tapes and restores them to any alternate location, thereby eliminating the need
for a recovery server. "
JAUCG