TIP: Repairing Outlook .ost and .pst files

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I’ve had issues recently with Outlook crashing when I shut it down. Initially I thought this was due to a rogue Outlook Addin (eg I’ve got Xobni, ClearContext, OutTwit and others installed). So I went through systematically getting rid of them. Put the problem persisted.

Finally I found the issue was to do with the actual .ost file being corrupted. The way I discovered this was by chance when trying to clear my Deleted items. Outlook gave me a message informing that the file was corrupt, and even better recommended using scanpst.exe to fix it.

I’d never heard of scanpst.exe but a quick Google check shows it has been around since the dark ages, and has been a regular in the Sys Admin’s toolbox for years.

If you are looking for it you can find it in your c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 12\ folder or equivalent.

Everything Outlook related needs to be closed down (eg Mobile Device Sync) and then you run it up. It’ll prompt for the ost file and away you go.

Since repairing my file I’ve had no further issues with Outlook.

Technorati Tags: scanpst.exe, Outlook, ost, pst, fix

81 comments

  • OST recovery can be performed by converting ost file to pst file. But if you have original Outlook profile that created ost file intact you can export ost to pst by using Import/Export function of Outlook.

  • It is nice one article for repairing ost and pst files. You can measure a simple and useful technique provide by Kernel for OST to PST converter tool to converts ost file data to pst file. Convert and save OST file to PST file and access OST user mailbox file items with .PST, .EML, .DBX or .MSG files. For more information check this site : http://www.softwaredatarecovery.net/convertosttopst.html

  • This is the best way to convert OST to PST and export OST file to PST file with PDS OST exporter software. Best OST converter to PST software has great technique to repair OST file and convert OST file into PST file within minutes. You can download OST to PST conversion solution from: http://www.osttopst.info

  • 100% Genuine & Reliable Solution to Completely Convert OST to PST
    Confidently repair Offline OST File Components & Strongly Convert OST file to Outlook PST file with a latest designed application. It is fully system compatible, Windows Based, support all Version of Outlook 2010, 2007, 2003, 2000 & 2002. 
    Find The Original Resource: http://www.pcvita.com/ost-converter.html

  • Hi Craig, 
    Thanks for sharing tips to repair PST and OST file, Both file has importance for email users who are using MS Outlook and Exchange application and you can see that users are also searching solution to repair these files. So Microsoft introduce a utility to repair both file SCANPST.EXE and SCANOST.EXE. It will help you to repair your corrupt file, problem still exist then you can go with third party branded company like Stellar Phoenix to resolve this issue.

By Craig Bailey

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