If you’re an Outlook user, you’re probably familiar with .pst files. These files store your emails, contacts, calendar entries, and other mailbox items. However, sometimes, these files get corrupted or damaged. This can hamper your daily communication and scheduling. While there are several methods available for repairing .pst files, some methods involve the risk of losing data. In this article, we’ll share some most effective and safe methods to repair your .pst file without any data loss.
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Methods to Repair Corrupt .pst File without Losing Data
To repair corrupt .pst file, you can use the in-built Inbox Repair tool in Outlook, i.e. ScanPST.exe or a premium PST repair tool, like Stellar Repair for Outlook. We will take a look at both the methods one-by-one.
Method 1: Repair PST using ScanPST.exe
Outlook provides a utility called ScanPST.exe to help repair .pst files with minor corruption issues. It is available in the Outlook installation directory. Let’s see how to use this utility.
Step 1: Locate the ScanPST.EXE File
The location of ScanPST.exe varies based on the version of Outlook and Windows edition. Here are the default locations based on Outlook versions:
Outlook 2019, Outlook 365, and Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 for 32-bit or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 for 64-bit Windows.
Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15 for 32-bit or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15 for 64-bit Windows.
Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14 for 32-bit or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14 for 64-bit Windows.
Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12 for 32-bit or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12 for 64-bit Windows.
Outlook 2003: C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\<locale ID> for 32-bit or C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\<locale ID> for 64-bit Windows
Step 2: Run the ScanPST.exe
- Close Microsoft Outlook and navigate to the ScanPST.exe location (based on your Outlook version).
- Double-click on the ScanPST.exe to open it.
Step 3: Select the .PST File for Repair
- In the Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool window, click the “Browse” button to select the PST file.
Note: If you’re unsure of the PST file location, then,
- Open Control Panel.
- Double-click the Mail icon.
- Click “Show Profiles”.
- Select your email profile and click “Properties”.
- Click the “Data Files” button.
- Make a note of the location of your PST file.
Step 4: Begin the Scanning Process
- Click “Start” after selecting the PST file.
- The tool will start scanning the PST file. This may take some time depending on the file size and extent of corruption.
Step 5: Repair the .PST File
- If errors are found, you will be prompted to make a backup of the file. Ensure this option is selected.
- Then, click “Repair” to start the repair process.
- A message will appear when the repair process is complete. Click “OK”.
- Open Microsoft Outlook and check if your PST file opens correctly.
Method 2: Repair .pst File using Stellar Repair for Outlook
Stellar Repair for Outlook is a professional-grade software designed to repair corrupted .pst files. It provides efficient recovery of emails, contacts, calendars, and other mailbox items with complete integrity. This tool saves the recovered items in a new PST file which you can easily import into your Outlook. It supports all the versions of Outlook and is compatible with all the Windows editions. Let’s see how to use this software.
- Launch Stellar Repair for Outlook.
- Click on ‘Select Outlook Data File’. Use the ‘Browse’ option to select your .pst file if you know its location. If not, use the ‘Find’ option to search for it.
- Click ‘Repair’ to start scanning the selected .pst file. The duration of the scan depends on the file size and extent of corruption.
- After the scan, the software will display the contents of the repaired .pst file. Select the recovered items you want to save.
- Click on ‘Save Repaired File’.
- Choose the file format and location to save the file.
- Once you have chosen the desired format and location, click ‘OK’ to save the file.
- A confirmation message will appear once the saving process is complete.
Why Use Stellar Repair for Outlook?
- No Data Loss: Stellar Repair for Outlook ensures complete recovery of all the data from corrupted .pst files without any loss.
- Handles Severe Corruption: It effectively repairs severely corrupt PST files.
- User-Friendly Interface: The tool offers an intuitive interface, making the repair process easy even for non-technical users.
- Preview Before Saving: It enables users to preview recovered data, ensuring accuracy before saving.
- Flexible Saving Options: The tool allows saving repaired files in various formats, offering greater flexibility.
Wrapping Up
Repairing .pst file effectively, especially without data loss, is critical. Stellar Repair for Outlook stands out as a robust solution for repairing corrupt PST files without any data loss. Its ability to recover vital emails, contacts, and calendars from corrupt PST file with complete integrity makes it a perfect tool. If you encounter persistent challenges, consider using Stellar Repair for Outlook to ensure a comprehensive and professional recovery of your Outlook data.