PST file format is not new for Windows users. These files are initially designed to store items such as contacts, emails, calendar events, etc. One can also find this file format through any native Windows program, such as Microsoft Outlook, which is the official email for Microsoft users. If you have a missing or corrupted PST file, it can cause different issues for you. Don’t worry at all. There are some ways to restore or repair corrupt PST files. Here we have discussed what these files are and what you can do to solve the problem. Let’s start.
PSTs are usually created automatically when a new email account is added with Outlook. Once it is properly connected and authenticated with the remote male server, it instantly gets loaded with existing data such as your emails and contact information. This can also limit the amount of storage used on a server by individual users, and also, with PSTs, you can get local archives in return.
What are the different types of Outlook data files?
There are three main types of Outlook data files that are Outlook data files (.pst), Offline Outlook Data File (.ost), and Outlook Group Storage File (.nst).
Benefits of PST
Using .pst, you cannot only backup or export items for different email accounts but also import information such as email messages, contacts, calendar dates, and much more. These files are directly stored on your computer, and that’s why they will not block your storage in your mailbox and do not depend on the size of the mail server. PST files can also efficiently support uploads to other email services. These files are only available on the computer where you have saved the file.
The location of PST files on your computer
The location of the files on your computer can depend on the version of your Microsoft Outlook. You can know the location of your file by following the steps mentioned below:-
Go to the app and, on the top-left corner of your screen, select file.
Select account settings
Choose the data file option
Here you will be able to know the location of your file
When can you face PST corruption?
There can be various situations that can cause the corruption of your PST files. Some of the common scenarios are mentioned below:
You can encounter this issue if your Microsoft Outlook is opened, but the app gets terminated abruptly and abnormally. For example, you can encounter this issue if your Outlook crashes or your Windows shuts down abruptly.
Some companies can store PST files on a central file server so that you can share them easily. So, if your network connection gets broken abruptly, the files can become corrupted.
One thing must be mentioned here is that the chances of corruption can increase with the file size. Though there are only a few chances of this kind of incident with the new versions of Outlook, you should be prepared.
How to repair corrupt PST files?
When you notice that your files are corrupted, you can go through a few troubleshooting methods, and we hope these methods will solve the issue. Here we have mentioned the methods below.
Method 1: Try to repair the PST
First, you should try to repair corrupt PST files by running Microsoft’s free inbox repair tool ( Scan PST), which can properly diagnose and repair the errors in the outlook data file. Here we have mentioned how you can do that.
(Note– This tool does not connect or analyze any data that he stored in an exchange mailbox; it only looks for the errors and tries to fix them.)
- First, you will need to exit Outlook and go to any of the following file locations.
Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office
- Now, you will need to open “SCANPST.EXE” on your computer.
- Select the browse option and choose the Outlook data file you want to scan.
- Click on the start button and it will begin the scan.
- If any errors are found, you will need to click on the repair button to start the repair process.
- Once the process is done, restart Outlook and check whether the issue is solved or not.
(Note– Depending on the issue, you can also see a new folder on your computer named “recovered personal folders” in the Outlook folder pane. In this folder, you will have the information that Microsoft couldn’t add to the original PST format. In such case, creating a new Outlook data file is recommended, and then drag the items from the “lost and found” folders inside the ” recovered personal folders” into the newly created data file. After doing this, you can delete the recovered personal folders from your Outlook folder pane.)
Method 2: restore from backup
You can choose this method if you regularly back up your computer. Use this method only if your entire file is corrupted or you know which specific folder or message is corrupted.
For this, try to remember when the corruption occurred and then restore it using the most recent file before the corruption. If you notice the corruption months after it occurred, you must go for other methods.
Method 3: Skip the errors
Yes, it is possible to skip the errors. For this, you can import the content of a PST back into a mailbox and set the “bad item limit” while doing this process. So, following this process, you can export the remaining items back to the new PST file.
Method 4: Use third-party tools or applications to recover the files
You can use a third-party application to eliminate this issue or recover or restore corrupt PST files. You will get various options on the internet to choose from. Make sure to go for the reliable one for this purpose. Here are some famous tools that you can go for:
Experiencing difficulties with your Device, check out our “How To” page on how to resolve some of these issues.
