How to Fix Outlook PST Files
If you have worked with Microsoft Office products such as Outlook on a regular basis, then you may have some passing familiarity with PST files. “PST” stands for “Personal Storage Table”, this is a file the Outlook uses to store all the Outlook data. Not only does this include e-mail messages from Microsoft Exchange mail boxes, but also calendar items and other task items. You will notice that by default the PST file is kept under the users account on the C drive but when installing Outlook you are given a choice were to store this file and some users will have it on a netowrk or anther drive.
Over the course of a few years you will most likely encounter a problem with your pst file. It is possible to do a PST file repair using a variety of methods, depending on the severity of the damage. The first task is to find out where your PST files are stored. By default, they can be found in “C:Documents and SettingsUSER Local SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook”. Be sure to substitute your Windows login screen name for USER when typing in this directory. The default filename for your PST file that is hosting your current mail box is Outlook.pst. There is also an archive file available, known as Archive.pst. There is no way of telling if a PST file is corrupt based on visual inspection. When Outlook is opened, the program will inform you of any corrupt data that needs to be repaired.
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Microsoft Outlook comes with an automatic repair method and an external repair kit for fixing Outlook PST files. When Outlook is opened, the program will notify you of this problem, and then attempt to fix the PST file automatically. Before trying to use the external PST file repair tool that comes with office you should allow Outlook to attempt an automatic repair. In the event that the automatic repair fails to fix the Outlook PST file, you will have to open the Inbox Repair Tool located in “C:Program FilesCommon FilesSystemMSMAPI1033” and search for the Inbox Repair Tool, under the filename Scanpst.exe.
This sweet little to is an external program that comes with office and is used to often times repair a corrupt PST file. To start this program, double click on the Scanpst.exe executable. You will then see window that will ask you to locate the name of the PST file you wish to repair. After this task is done then it's on to starting the Inbox repair tool to scan and repair the PST file. If the PST file is too corrupted or damaged, the Inbox Repair Tool may not be able to fix the Outlook PST file, requiring other third-party solutions. If the Inbox Repair Tool cannot be found in the specified location, find and run CNFNOT32.exe, which should be in the same location that Scanpst.exe should be located. This will restore the executable back to the proper location.
Not everyone needs help repairing a pst file but this guide should help out in case you need it.If the Outlook program keeps crashing on you and if that seems to be casuing the PST file to become corrupt then consider uninstalling office.This works a lot of the time to fix the problem. In case you are having trouble uninstalling office then check out this cannot uninstall site for software to help out.
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