Trying to open Outlook 2007 reported that outlook.pst corrupted and suggested running scanpst.exe. Tried running it and it did not work with the file.
I saw a recommendation for Stellar PST repair (www.stellarinfo.com)and ran their free demo to see results. Results appeared to shoe contents were repairable (by the number of e-mail and contacts indicated in the scan). So I purchased and ran the software according to the instructions.
The original .pst was about 7 Gig and after processing the "restored" .pst file was over 13 Gig! And the new file would not open (freezes Outlook). All that's left is the archive.pst file which doesn't contain all the e-mail messages and contains NO contact records.
Does anyone have a solution? It's really important to get my contact records from that file.
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Outlook 2007 corrupt Outlook.pst file issue
Pro
4th Jun 2010
Answers (2)
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Repairing a Personal Folders file (.pst)
You may need to use the Inbox Repair Tool if you open your Outlook .pst file and receive this message:
Unable to expand the folder. The set of folders could not be opened. Errors could have been detected in the file drive:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst. Quit all mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox Repair Tool.
Note The path to the file specified in the message may vary depending upon the operating system you are using on your computer.
To repair the .pst file:
1. On the Start menu, click Run.
2. In the Open box, type
drive:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\LocaleID\scanpst.exe
where LocaleID is the locale identifier (LCID) for your installation of Microsoft Office. For example, the LCID for English (United States) is 1033. For a list of LCIDs, see Microsoft Office Help.
3. Click OK.
4. In the "Enter the name of the file you want to scan" box, type the path and file name given in the error message above.
Note You may not be able to use the Browse button to locate this file because it is located in a hidden folder.
5. To change the options for logging errors during the scan, click Options. If you choose Replace log or Append to log, the log file is saved to the same directory as the .pst file.
6. Click Start.
7. When the file scan is completed, select the Make a backup of scanned file before repairing check box.
8. Click Repair.
If the file is successfully repaired, you will see a Repair complete message. If the Inbox Repair Tool was unable to repair the file, you will need to use a backup of your file.
To begin using your backup file as your new primary file:
1. Start Outlook.
2. On the File menu, click Data File Management.
3. Select the .pst that is damaged, and then click Remove.
4. Click Add, select Personal Folders File (.pst), click OK, and then select the .pst file you want to use as the new primary file.
5. Click OK.
Important You should not rely solely on the Inbox Repair Tool for disaster recovery. A system of regular backups of your .pst file is an important part of preventing data loss. You can back up the file in several ways, including copying it to another location, backing up all of the files on your computer, or by using the Personal Folders Backup utility, available on the Microsoft Office Online site.
Repairing an Offline Folder file (.ost)
You may want to scan and repair your .ost if you:
* Encounter a large numbers of conflict items.
* Cannot open particular Outlook items when offline.
* Receive unexpected synchronization error messages (as shown in the synchronization log in the Deleted Items folder).
* Receive the message:
Unable to expand the folder. The set of folders could not be opened. Errors could have been detected in the file drive:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.ost. Quit all mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox Repair Tool.
Note The file path specified in the message may vary depending upon the operating system you are using on your computer.
In addition, you might be able to open folders in the .ost but get synchronization error messages that do not go away. This happens when a single e-mail message is damaged and the synchronization process cannot correct it. You can use the OST Integrity Tool to fix damaged messages or to move them so you can synchronize successfully.
Important You may need to run scanpst.exe (see the first procedure above) first if the OST Integrity Tool cannot open the .ost file.
To disable the .ost file and create a new one:
1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts, click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
2. In the list, click Microsoft Exchange Server, and then click Change.
3. Click More Settings.
4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Offline Folder File Settings.
5. Click Disable Offline Use.
6. In the File box, type the path to the file you want to use as the new .ost file. The default file name is outlook.ost. If this file name already exists, you are prompted for a new name.
Good luck with repairing your PST files.
But can i suggest that when you have repaired your PST file(s), you do a FULL BACKUP of these files so you do not go down the same road all over again.
SO, backup, backup. Hint, hint.
Unable to expand the folder. The set of folders could not be opened. Errors could have been detected in the file drive:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.pst. Quit all mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox Repair Tool.
Note The path to the file specified in the message may vary depending upon the operating system you are using on your computer.
To repair the .pst file:
1. On the Start menu, click Run.
2. In the Open box, type
drive:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\LocaleID\scanpst.exe
where LocaleID is the locale identifier (LCID) for your installation of Microsoft Office. For example, the LCID for English (United States) is 1033. For a list of LCIDs, see Microsoft Office Help.
3. Click OK.
4. In the "Enter the name of the file you want to scan" box, type the path and file name given in the error message above.
Note You may not be able to use the Browse button to locate this file because it is located in a hidden folder.
5. To change the options for logging errors during the scan, click Options. If you choose Replace log or Append to log, the log file is saved to the same directory as the .pst file.
6. Click Start.
7. When the file scan is completed, select the Make a backup of scanned file before repairing check box.
8. Click Repair.
If the file is successfully repaired, you will see a Repair complete message. If the Inbox Repair Tool was unable to repair the file, you will need to use a backup of your file.
To begin using your backup file as your new primary file:
1. Start Outlook.
2. On the File menu, click Data File Management.
3. Select the .pst that is damaged, and then click Remove.
4. Click Add, select Personal Folders File (.pst), click OK, and then select the .pst file you want to use as the new primary file.
5. Click OK.
Important You should not rely solely on the Inbox Repair Tool for disaster recovery. A system of regular backups of your .pst file is an important part of preventing data loss. You can back up the file in several ways, including copying it to another location, backing up all of the files on your computer, or by using the Personal Folders Backup utility, available on the Microsoft Office Online site.
Repairing an Offline Folder file (.ost)
You may want to scan and repair your .ost if you:
* Encounter a large numbers of conflict items.
* Cannot open particular Outlook items when offline.
* Receive unexpected synchronization error messages (as shown in the synchronization log in the Deleted Items folder).
* Receive the message:
Unable to expand the folder. The set of folders could not be opened. Errors could have been detected in the file drive:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\Outlook.ost. Quit all mail-enabled applications, and then use the Inbox Repair Tool.
Note The file path specified in the message may vary depending upon the operating system you are using on your computer.
In addition, you might be able to open folders in the .ost but get synchronization error messages that do not go away. This happens when a single e-mail message is damaged and the synchronization process cannot correct it. You can use the OST Integrity Tool to fix damaged messages or to move them so you can synchronize successfully.
Important You may need to run scanpst.exe (see the first procedure above) first if the OST Integrity Tool cannot open the .ost file.
To disable the .ost file and create a new one:
1. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts, click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
2. In the list, click Microsoft Exchange Server, and then click Change.
3. Click More Settings.
4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Offline Folder File Settings.
5. Click Disable Offline Use.
6. In the File box, type the path to the file you want to use as the new .ost file. The default file name is outlook.ost. If this file name already exists, you are prompted for a new name.
Good luck with repairing your PST files.
But can i suggest that when you have repaired your PST file(s), you do a FULL BACKUP of these files so you do not go down the same road all over again.
SO, backup, backup. Hint, hint.
Updated - 4th Jun 2010
Replies
From taking a copy of the Archive and working with the copy while leaving the Archive untouched.
Also the fact that it grew in size after attacking the PST File with a repair Utility isn't any issue as Outlook can compress the PST File and the repair utility decompresses it.
However I should add that even 7 GIG for a PST is way too large let alone a 13 Gig file of that size which is going to cause Outlook to run Very Slowly.
So have you tried leaving Outlook open for a long time and seeing if the file eventually opens?
Also have you checked in Device Manager to see what is happening with the program as well as system resources?
It is quite possible that even with a super fast computer opening a 13 Gig PST File is going to take quite a bit of time and that Outlook will appear non-responsive till it can open the file.
But whenever you attempt any type of Data Recovery you Always make a copy of the damaged files and work with the copy never the Original. You Never Ever use software that makes changes to a irreplaceable file on the Original File. You always copy it and work with the copy.
Col
Also the fact that it grew in size after attacking the PST File with a repair Utility isn't any issue as Outlook can compress the PST File and the repair utility decompresses it.
However I should add that even 7 GIG for a PST is way too large let alone a 13 Gig file of that size which is going to cause Outlook to run Very Slowly.
So have you tried leaving Outlook open for a long time and seeing if the file eventually opens?
Also have you checked in Device Manager to see what is happening with the program as well as system resources?
It is quite possible that even with a super fast computer opening a 13 Gig PST File is going to take quite a bit of time and that Outlook will appear non-responsive till it can open the file.
But whenever you attempt any type of Data Recovery you Always make a copy of the damaged files and work with the copy never the Original. You Never Ever use software that makes changes to a irreplaceable file on the Original File. You always copy it and work with the copy.
Col
OH Smeg
4th Jun 2010
0
Votes
For the Future
Install the outlook backup utility.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en
It is easy to setup and it can automatically backup your .pst
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8b081f3a-b7d0-4b16-b8af-5a6322f4fd01&displaylang=en
It is easy to setup and it can automatically backup your .pst
4th Jun 2010
