Maximum recipient value is changed from "No Limit" to the default value when you reinstall Exchange 2000 Server or Exchange Server 2003

In Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server or in Exchange Server 2003, you can change the maximum number of recipients for each message from the default value, 5,000, to "No limit." But when you reinstall Exchange 2000 or Exchange 2003 on any server in the organization, this value is reset to 5,000.

On installation, Setup preserves all existing attributes. However, when you change the maximum recipient number to "No limit," Exchange 2000 or Exchange 2003 deletes the msExchRecipLimit attribute. Therefore, when you set the maximum recipient setting to "No limit," the msExchRecipLimit attribute doesn't exist, so Setup re-creates it with the default value.

Set the Maximum Recipients value to a number larger than the default (5,000) instead of to "No limit":

1. Start Exchange System Manager.
2. In the left pane, click to expand Global Settings.
3. Right-click Message Delivery, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
4. Click the Defaults tab, click Maximum Recipients under Recipient Limits, and then type the largest number that is allowed.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.