How can I open corrupted .pst files in Outlook?

landon

I'm getting an error in Outlook when I try to open my Outlook personal folder that tells me my .pst file is corrupted. I'm not sure how it happened, but is there a way to still access the data?

Topic: Software
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5 total
Rody Roon
Vote Up (1)

Hello,

 

First of all you should try to repair your corrupted pst files with the help of Scanpst.exe inbox repair tool,there are an other option of a third party of pst repair tool which can very easily repair and recover corrupted pst files.There are several software available and Kernel for Outlook PST repair Tool is one of them ,It can also repair PST files with broken or damaged PST header and the files with PST encryption parameters.

 

 

landon
Vote Up (2)

Thanks for the help. The Inbox Repair tool, which I didn't even realize existed, did the trick.  

sarahsmith

Hi Landon,

 

Which Outlook version you are using and what was the size of your PST file when it was corrupted? Just asking for the information as several times I have heared that Inbox repair tool or Scanpst does not work. My experience with scanpst was also not good and to repair my corrupt pst I tried another tool like Scanpst which was much more advanced and quick. So if inbox repair tool works then its great but if it doesn't then other tool can also be used.

 

Regards

Sarah

jimlynch
Vote Up (3)

See this article from Microsoft:

Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/repair-outlook-data-files...

"If you can't open your Personal Folders file (.pst) or your Offline Folder file (.ost), or you suspect that your .pst or .ost data file is corrupted, you can use the Inbox Repair tool (Scanpst.exe) to diagnose and repair errors in the file. The Inbox Repair tool scans only the .pst or .ost file, not your mailbox on the server running Microsoft Exchange. The tool determines whether the file structure is intact. If it is not intact, the Inbox Repair tool resets your file structure and rebuilds the headers.

The Inbox Repair tool works on both the Microsoft Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (.pst) and the Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst) data files in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2007."

Christopher Nerney
Vote Up (7)

There are a few tools you can buy to repair and recover corrupted .pst files. Most offer a free version, but those usually have limited functionality. Here's some advice from Microsoft:

 

If you can't open your Personal Folders file (.pst) or your Offline Folder file (.ost), or you suspect that your .pst or .ost data file is corrupted, you can use the Inbox Repair tool (Scanpst.exe) to diagnose and repair errors in the file. The Inbox Repair tool scans only the .pst or .ost file, not your mailbox on the server running Microsoft Exchange. The tool determines whether the file structure is intact. If it is not intact, the Inbox Repair tool resets your file structure and rebuilds the headers.

 

The Inbox Repair tool works on both the Microsoft Outlook 97-2002 Personal Folders File (.pst) and the Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst) data files in Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 and Microsoft Office Outlook 2007.

 

Scanpst.exe is installed when you install Outlook. It is located at:

 

drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12.

 

Repair errors by using Scanpst.exe

 

  1. Exit Outlook if it is running.
  2. Double-click Scanpst.exe, located at drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12.
  3. In the Enter the name of the file you want to scan box, enter the name of the .pst or .ost file that you want to check, or click Browse to search for the file.
  4. To specify the scan log options, click Options, and then click the option that you want.
  5. Click Start.
  6. If errors are found after the scan is complete, you will be prompted to start the repair process to fix the errors.

A backup file is created during the repair process. To change the default name or location of this backup file, in the Enter name of backup file box, enter a new name, or click Browse to look for the file that you want to use.

  1. Click Repair.
  2. Start Outlook by using the profile that contains the .pst file that you tried to repair.
  3. On the Go menu, click Folder List.

 

In the Folder List, you may see a folder named Recovered Personal Folders that contains your default Outlook folders or a Lost and Found folder. The recovered folders are usually empty, because this is a rebuilt .pst file. The Lost and Found folder contains the folders and items recovered by the Inbox Repair tool. Items that are missing from the Lost and Found folder cannot be repaired.

 

  1. If you see a Recovered Personal Folders folder, you can create a new .pst file, and drag the items in the Lost and Found folder into the new .pst file. When you have finished moving all the items, you can remove the Recovered Personal Folders (.pst) file, including the Lost and Found folder, from your profile.

 

 

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