Corruption of PST files is unfortunately a common occurrence for Outlook users. This document serves as an ultimate guide to fixing corrupted Outlook .pst files and salvaging lost email data.
We will cover the best practices for resolving corruption issues, from easy fixes to more advanced solutions such as Inbox Repair tool, running various commands in the MS DOS prompt window, or using professional software tools.
So let’s get started.
Easy Fix – Run ScanPST:
The first method we will discuss is running ScanPST utility on your corrupt PST file. ScanPST is an inbuilt repair tool provided by Microsoft which can detect and fix minor corruption issues within the Outlook data files. You can find this program at C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16.
Advanced Solutions – MS DOS Prompt & Professional Software:
If the ScanPST tool fails to fix your PST file, you may have to resort to running various commands in the MS DOS prompt window. There are a variety of commands that can be used depending on the type and extent of corruption in the PST file. If these solutions fail, we recommend using a professional repair software such as DataNumen Outlook PST Repair Tool. This is a specialized utility designed for repairing severely corrupted or damaged Outlook data files (.pst). It also salvages deleted email items from an outlook data file (.pst).
Backup Your PST File Regularly:
To prevent any future data loss due to corruption issues, it is important to have a backup of your .pst file regularly. This can be done by exporting the .pst file from Outlook into a different location on your hard drive or external storage device. Doing this regularly ensures that you always have a copy of your Outlook data stored in a secure location.
Compact the PST File:
Another helpful tip is to compact your Outlook .pst file from time to time. When the size of an Outlook .pst file grows too large, there is more chance for corruption issues to occur. To avoid this, you can periodically compact the .pst file which reduces its size and helps it run smoother. You can find the “Compact Now” option by going into File > Data File Management > Settings > Compact Now.
Convert Your PST File:
If you are still having problems with corrupted email data, you may need to convert your old PST file into a new one. This process will create a fresh and clean Outlook data file, which may help resolve the corruption issue. To do this, open Outlook and go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Then choose “Export to a file” and select “Outlook Data File (.pst)” as the export format.
FAQs:
Q: What is a PST file?
A: A PST (Personal Storage Table) file is a data file used to store email messages, contacts and other Outlook items on your computer.
Q: How can I prevent corruption of my Outlook .pst files?
A: Regularly backing up and compacting the .pst file are two simple steps you can take in order to reduce the chances of corruption issues. Additionally, using a specialized repair software such as DataNumen Outlook PST Repair Tool can also help protect against potential damage or corruption.
Conclusion:
Corruption of PST files can be frustrating, but luckily there are several ways to repair corrupted Outlook .pst files and salvage lost email data.
In this article, we discussed how to fix corrupt Outlook .pst files. We started with easy fixes such as running ScanPST, and then discussed more advanced solutions like running commands in the MS-DOS prompt window or using professional software tools. Hopefully, this guide will help you save your Outlook email data and get you back on track.
In this article, we discussed some of the best practices for resolving corrupted Outlook .pst files. We started with easy fixes such as running ScanPST and compacting the .pst file. We then discussed more advanced solutions like converting the old PST into a new one or using professional software tools. Hopefully, these tips will help you save your Outlook email data and get you back on track.