If you want to fix PST files using this tool, make sure to have a proper backup of the Outlook PST before processing. This utility is not the professionals’ recommendation, as it comes with a lot of drawbacks. Before implementing this method to fix Outlook PST files, read its limitations for more insight.

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These Outlook data (PST) files store user’s data, including email messages, calendars, tasks, journals, etc. After you run the Inbox Repair tool, you can start Outlook and recover repaired items. Optionally, you can try to recover additional repaired items from the backup personal folder. To avoid data loss, EdbMails OST to PST converter provides a reliable way to recover mailbox content from damaged or orphaned files. It converts the troubleshoot Outlook synchronizing folders error data into PST format, which can be easily opened in Outlook without needing access to the original account.

Methods to Rebuild an Outlook PST File

Dealing with corrupt files is always scary, especially because of the potential for data loss. If you’ve tried Outlook’s recovery tool with no luck, it might be time to consider something more powerful. After running SCANPST.EXE, you might find a folder called Recovered Personal Folders in your files that contains your default Outlook folders or a Lost and Found folder. The folders might just be empty and redundant, or they might contain recovered data that Outlook couldn’t place in its original locations. The Inbox Repair Tool is an in-built utility from Microsoft to overcome the Outlook PST file corruption issues.

Manually start the Inbox Repair tool

No validation is explicitly done on body-related properties or on subject-related properties, except the implicit low-level validation that this article discusses earlier. The recipient display properties are changed to be consistent with the recovered recipient table. As soon as this operation is complete, other algorithms are run to collect all the orphaned messages and to put them in an Orphans folder. If you could not open your original Personal Folders (.pst) file before you ran Inbox Repair Tool, the following procedures may not work.

Locating the Outlook Data Files

We will be delving into exploring the powerful methods to fix Outlook PST files in the following paragraph. Follow these steps to repair your Outlook personal folder file (.pst) by using Inbox Repair tool. If you can open the original Outlook Data File, you might be able to recover additional Exchange connectivity diagnostic items. The Inbox Repair tool creates a backup file with the same name as the original, but with a .bak extension, and saves it in the same folder. There may be items in the backup file that you might be able to recover that the Inbox Repair tool couldn't. Problems like system crashes, sudden shutdowns, or profile issues can corrupt the OST file, causing Outlook to display sync errors or lose access to your data.

• Moreover, this tool can quickly recover email messages, calendars, tasks and other data from corrupted PST files.
• These low-level objects have no knowledge of the upper-level structures, such as messages, calendar items, and so on, that are built upon them.
• The Inbox Repair tool or ScanPST.exe is not a convenient way because of multiple restrictions.
• You can also move the PST file to a different folder or drive.
• In a situation like that, you might need to try another solution, like a more powerful third-party tool.

This might happen with a large .pst file that exceeds the size limit due to third-party add-ins or apps. It can also occur if you close Outlook abruptly, or if your file is copied and stored in a way that causes an error, such as on a network drive reset cached Exchange mode or cloud file location. Here, we will outline two approaches, both manual and professional, to fix corrupt Outlook PST Files. Let’s start by understanding the basics of the repair process. Users now should be mindful of the common causes why users need to fix Outlook data files (PST).

How to Fix Outlook Data File Cannot Be Accessed?

Although the repair process might recreate some of the folders, they may be empty. The Lost and Found folder contains any folders and items recovered by the repair tool that Outlook can't place in their original structure. This post explains how to repair Outlook .pst files using Microsoft’s Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE), as well as other solutions you can try. It’s saved on your computer, and contains data from your Microsoft Outlook account, like your email messages and other information. Typically, .pst files are used by POP accounts, a type of email account created when you add an email to Outlook from an internet service provider (ISP) like AT&T.