How to Repair a Damaged PST file in Outlook 2010 Using ScanPST.exe

In the past articles, we discussed a lot about how we can perform email management in MS Outlook. In this post, I am going to talk about how to repair a damaged PST file in Outlook 2010.

In Outlook 2002 and all the previous versions, the PST files which were generated had a maximum storage limit of 2 GB (also discussed in previous articles). Most of the users who are not tech savvy, use their email client continuously without knowing about the frequent preventive maintenance. Before coming to the outlook PST repair process, let me tell you what are the preventive measures to avoid PST corruption.

How to avoid or prevent PST corruption?

There are several methods you can adopt to prevent your Outlook PST from corruption.

• You can compress your PST files safely and save unnecessarily occupied space in them.
• You may split Outlook PST into multiple PST files and manage each file in your MS Outlook Individually

If you want to be well-versed with email management, I recommend you check the best solutions and tips for e-mail management in MS Outlook.

How to Repair a Damaged PST file in Outlook 2010

Microsoft offers ScanPST.exe with the installation of MS Office or MS Outlook and is not available for downloading separately. This inbox repair tool is capable to recover the mail items and folders from corrupted PST files (Personal Storage Tables) created in all major versions of MS Outlook including 2013.

As mentioned above in this article, if you are still using an older version of Outlook like 2002 and earlier, ScanPST.exe might not work if the PST file size has reached near 2 GB.

Please check your PST file size before you continue and follow any of the preventive measures I suggested above. You can find your Outlook PST files in the locations mentioned below.

• • Windows 7 or Win Vista: C:usersusernameAppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook

• Windows XP and Win 2000: C: Documents and SettingsusernameLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook

If you find your PST file close to 2 GB, you may try PST and OST cropping tools.

With the change in technology, Microsoft has also updated its programs, importing DBX files to PST is asked by many and on the other hand, keeping your file secure is a good habit, but when you lose or forget a PST password you don’t need to worry as I’ve already shared a couple of updated solutions for this.

How to repair damaged Outlook PST files?

One more thing I would like to tell you before I continue with the repair process. There are many automated Outlook PST repair tools available online that guide you that how to Repair a Damaged PST file in Outlook 2010. Though I am optimistic, if this method fails due to any severe corruption that ScanPST.exe couldn’t handle, you can use a very efficient and inexpensive PST Repair Tool by SysInfoTools. Here you need not need think about the level of corruption, the software takes the pain for you.

Steps to Repair Damaged Outlook PST Files

PST Location In Windows 7 and previous versions:

• Open My Computer ⇒ Click on Tools on the menu bar ⇒ Click on Folder Options ⇒ Click Ok

PST Location In Windows 8:

• Open My Computer ⇒ Click on the View tab ⇒ Check Hidden Items

• ScanPST.exe is a hidden file, so now you can see it in the folder it is stored.
• To make it easy, directly search the file in the drive where Outlook is installed. Type ScanPST.exe and search. If you are not able to find it check the below locations depending on the windows versions.

If still, you were unable to find it, you may download it from computer hope.

• Run ScanPST.exe
• Click on Browse and locate the PST file
• Win 98 or Windows ME:
  • C: WindowsLocal SettingsApplication Data
• Win NT 4.0:
  • C:WINNTProfilesusernameLocal SettingsApplication Data
• Win XP or Win Server 2003:
  • C:Documents and SettingsusernameLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
• Win 8, Win 7, or Win Vista:
  • C:usersusernameAppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook

• • After selecting the PST file, Click Start

• • Now the inbox repair tool will start scanning your PST file for any errors or corruptions in it.

• Once the process completes, restart MS Outlook, and you’ll see the list of recovered files and folders.

Recover the repaired Items after running the inbox repair tool

Remember, you have not yet recovered the data, only the repairing process is completed. As this is a free PST repair tool by Microsoft, you need to do a lot of things manually.

• • Start Outlook and select the PST file your selected to repair

• • Switch the view into Folder list view from View or Go Menu

• You’ll see the following recovered folders list

1. Calendar
2. Contacts
3. Deleted Items
4. Inbox
5. Journal
6. Notes
7. Outbox
8. Sent Items
9. Tasks

You’ll find a Lost and Found folder in MS Outlook, which basically carries all the mailbox data repaired or recovered after using the PST repair tool by Microsoft (ScanPST.exe).

• Create a new PST file, follow the steps in the images shown below

Once you are done creating a new PST file, you can move the mailbox items from the lost and found folder to the new PST.

So this is the process of recovering the PST files from corruption. If you feel that after this process, some of your items are missing, that means ScanPST.exe could not handle and recover that data.

You may now repair your Outlook PST file in any of the two methods mentioned above. Either you may use ScanPST.exe (Inbox repair tool) or you may go with PST repair Tool by SysInfoTools. The ball is in your court.

Many of you configure their Outlook with Exchange Server, in that the database file created is OST. There is a very efficient solution to repair and perform OST to PST conversion online.

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