How to Repair Corrupt PST File Learn Here

One common issue every Outlook user might have faced- at least once i.e. PST file got corrupted. And, this problem has been there for years. However, the objective of this technical write-up is to discuss how to repair corrupt PST file.

But, before having an in-depth discussion about the methods, let’s first get familiar with the Outlook data file(.pst) and why it tends to get corrupt easily.

Brief Introduction of PST file

PST files store copies of emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, journals, and other items. It comprises a folder structure and a number of individual items. Here, emails often have a large size compared with other items since they contain attachments.

If you talk about the size of the PST file then it can go up to certain GBs. Through the ‘Auto archive’ feature in Outlook, you can create PST files. Further, this file format is easily portable.

But, What’s Problem With PST files?

Well, frankly, the PST file is not a robust file format and is considered highly fragile. The design of this file format is unreliable for the long-term storage of a massive amount of data.

Furthermore, PST files are prone to data corruption which is the real concern of many Outlook users.

Now, the question arises, how does that happen? Let’s find out the same.

In What Way PST Files Get Corrupted?

For various reasons PST files don’t properly open and give error messages. Such as,

Abnormal Termination: When you frequently open and close the Outlook application or if your computer system terminates abruptly then there is a chance of PST file corruption.

Oversized PST: As discussed earlier, PST files can’t store large data files. And, the way data is growing these days, PST files often exceed their maximum limit(approx 20-50 GB). Particularly, this makes them liable to corruption.

PST files shared through networks: Sometimes, in organizations, to access a common PST file, it’s put on a server and shared via networks. This simultaneously leads to data corruption. And, when the file size is larger, the chances of file corruption are higher.

When you have heavily corrupted PST files, it shows the following error messages.

“Errors have been detected in abc.pst file”
“The abc.pst couldn’t be accessed.” “Unable to open abc.pst file. Access denied.”

Such types of error messages can cause a nightmare if you are in a hurry and want to open an important PST file.

However, there are ways you can use to repair the corrupt PST file(s). Let’s learn various methods.

How Can You Repair Corrupt PST File?

Dealing with corrupted PST files is easy if you know the right way to repair the damage.

So, for repairing PST files, there are 2 methods available that you can use. One of the methods is a manual one, which Microsoft supports itself, that uses scanpst.exe. And the other one is automated that uses Tried and Tested PST Repair Tool.

Let’s discuss them one by one.

Manually Repair Corrupt PST File Using In-house Tool

If you have minor corrupt PST files then with the in-built inbox repair tool(scanpst.exe) you can easily recover them. Just follow the below steps.

•  Locate the Inbox Repair Tool on your computer. Because the location is different for different Outlook versions. For instance,

1. Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\
2. Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
3. Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
4. Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
5. Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

• After locating the tool open and run it on your system.
• Then, click on the Browse button and select the corrupt PST file that you want to repair.
• Click on Start. Now, the Inbox Repair Tool will start scanning for corrupt files and repair them.

However, Microsoft itself doesn’t guarantee that you will have corrupt-free PST files after following the above solution.

In fact, resolving issues with PST files can be a significant drain on resources for IT administrators if the corruption level of PST files is extreme.

Hence, experts suggest opting for the professional automated tool(as mentioned above) that can help you recover multiple highly corrupted PST files.

Let’s see how!

Professionally Repair Corrupt PST File Using Automated Tool

With the help of the tool, you can not only fix the corrupted PST files but also recover virus-infected, inaccessible, encrypted, and deleted PST files. Sounds intriguing, right? So use the best Outlook Recovery Software to fix the corruption of Outlook PST file.

Let’s get familiar with the software for carrying out the task.

1. Install the software on your computer and launch the same.

2. Click on Add File and then choose either Select File or Search File.

3. Assuming you have clicked on the Select File option, click on the ‘…’ to browse the PST file.

4. Finally, you can export the result in PST format.

5.  At last click on the Export button to complete the task.

Also Read: Repair Outlook OST File 2019, 2016

Conclusion

As you know PST files are highly fragile and get damaged quickly. And, to recover the damage, the only way out is to repair them. For that, you may use the in-house Inbox repair tool, however, it’s not a feasible option if the damage is beyond your control. And, to handle those severe damages, a professional tool comes into the picture. Hence, according to your requirement make a decision and choose the right solution.