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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It also has no restrictions on adding oversized PST files to resolve corruption. Two methods, manual and professional will be explained here along with Outlook Stuck on Synchronizing Folders their stepwise working procedure to fix Outlook data files or Personal Storage Table (PST). The manual solution will uncover the step by step guide on the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe).

Methods to Rebuild an Outlook PST File

Yevgeniy Reznik is Laboratory Operations Manager at Secure Data Recovery Services in Cleveland, Ohio, and has more than a decade of experience as a data recovery engineer. Depending on your Office installation type (Click-to-run or MSI-based), you'll see the following options to proceed with the repair. Whatever the cause of corruption, you can rebuild the PST file to fix the issue.

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

Although Outlook lets you recreate the file, doing so may result in the loss of any unsynced changes. If you’re dealing with a corrupt .pst file, the very first step you should take is using the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE). You can usually repair a damaged .pst file using file repair software, but you might even be able to fix it using MS Outlook’s built-in capabilities. Each user can have particular reasons for corrupting their PST files. But, in some cases, a few common reasons are usually present behind Outlook data file corruption. However, the most common ones FixTechGuide mailbox repair steps are virus infection, large file size, compatibility issues, improper termination of Outlook, etc.

• However, deleting the PST file isn’t ideal as you may lose some mailbox items.
• We have shared everything on the manual and professional ways to fix Outlook data files or Personal Storage Table (PST) in this blog.
• In addition, it turns into leading Outlook errors, which might affect overall productivity and efficiency and can increase downtime.
• The recipient display properties are changed to be consistent with the recovered recipient table.
• Also, we go over the stepwise working procedure of both solutions and the reasons behind PST file corruption issues.
• ScanPST mostly validates and corrects errors in the internal data structures of a .pst file.
• However, with the right tools and techniques, it can be resolved.
• Let’s start learning from the basics of how to fix corrupted Outlook PST files.

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 Fix Outlook Not Opening After Windows Update 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).



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.