Is there any method to restore the SAM from the Emergency repair disk. The server machine that I am using is accidentally formatted, which is a IBM Netfinity 5100 server with RAID level 5 (4 HDDs). While restoring the Exchange database from the backup tape,with the fresh NT installation, it gives the error " You do not have the permissions required to complete the operation" - Microsoft Exchange directory ID no DS_E_INSUFFICIENT_ACCESS_RIGHTS. I think, the problem is because of the SAM mismatch. Please suggest a method to resolve this problem.

Yu can use the ERD is you like. You should be able to boot using either the CD or the 3 NT Setup floppies, and do a repair at the appropriate screen. The problem is that the Exchange amdinistrator ID is not the same as the network administrator ID. This is normal, and you shouldn't use the same ID's, anyway. You'll have to figure out what the ID is, and either reset the password, or recover the old one. If you choose to reset the password (easiest solution), then you'll need to go through the services on all you Exchange servers, and reset the password at the Exchange services startup screen. Should take about 10 minutes per server. HTH, Chase