Open Corrupt Outlook PST File in Few Clicks
PST stands for “Personal Storage Table.” It is a file used by Microsoft Outlook to store email messages, calendar events, and other data. The file has the extension “.pst” and is typically stored on your local hard drive. You can use the PST file to transfer your Outlook data from one computer to another or to create a backup of your Outlook data.
If you need to access the contents of a PST file, you can do so by opening it in Microsoft Outlook. But when you try to open the PST file you get an error message like Outlook data file not accessible.
Now, if you are not able to open a corrupt Outlook PST file, then here in this blog we will explain to you the right approach open corrupt Outlook PST file. But before going towards the solution part let’s discuss the reason for Outlook’s corruption.
Reasons for Outlook Data File Corruption
There are several reasons why a PST file might become corrupt, including:
Sudden power failure: If the power goes out unexpectedly while you are using Outlook, it can cause the PST file to become corrupt.
Hard drive crash: If the hard drive where the PST file is stored crashes, it can cause the PST file to become corrupt.
Virus infection: If a virus infects your computer, it can cause the PST file to become corrupt.
Incorrect shutdown: If you shut down your computer improperly (e.g. by cutting the power or pulling out the battery), it can cause the PST file to become corrupt.
Software conflict: If you have other software installed on your computer that conflicts with Outlook, it can cause the PST file to become corrupt.
File size limit: The PST file has a maximum size limit, and if it exceeds this limit, it can become corrupt.
Hardware problems: If there are problems with your computer’s hardware (e.g. RAM, motherboard, etc.), it can cause the PST file to become corrupt.
Issue Due to PST Corruption
Including unable to open corrupt Outlook PST file here in this section, we are going to discuss the issues you notice if your PST file is corrupted. So you can identify that your PST file is corrupted. If a PST file becomes corrupt, it can cause a number of problems with Outlook, including:
Inability to open the file: You may receive an error message when you try to open the PST file, or Outlook may simply not be able to open it.
Error messages when trying to access the file: You may receive error messages when you try to access certain items in the PST file, or when you try to perform certain actions (e.g. send an email).
Missing data or incomplete data: The PST file may not contain all of your data, or some of the data may be incomplete or corrupted. This can result in missing emails, contacts, calendar events, etc.
Slow performance: Outlook may run slower than usual if the PST file is corrupt, as it may take longer for the program to access the data in the file.
Other problems: There may be other problems as well, depending on the specific cause of the corruption and the extent of the damage to the PST file.
Free Ways to Open Corrupted PST Files
If you have a corrupt PST file that you are unable to open in Outlook, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem.
Method 1: Open Outlook in Safe Mode
The first option to open a corrupt Outlook PST file is to open the Outlook application is a safe mode to check all the settings of Outlook are corrected or not. Because if you open Outlook in Safe mode then it will disable all the extra settings and open Outlook with default settings. Now, to do this, follow the below steps:
1. First close Outlook.
2. Press the Windows key + R to open the “Run” dialog box.
3. Type “outlook.exe /safe” (without quotes) into the Run dialog box and press Enter.
4. Outlook will open in Safe Mode.
Method 2: Run Scanpst to Fix Corruption & Open PST File
Another option is to use the Inbox Repair Tool (Scanpst.exe), which is a utility provided by Microsoft that can scan the PST file and try to fix any errors. To use the Inbox Repair Tool, follow these steps:
1. Close Outlook.
2. Locate the Scanpst.exe file on your computer. The file is usually located in the following location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
3. Double-click on the Scanpst.exe file to open it.
4. Click on the “Browse” button and navigate to the location of the PST file on your hard drive.
5. Select the PST file and click “Open.”
6. Click on the “Start” button to begin the scan.
7. If the tool finds any errors, it will prompt you to repair them. Click on the “Repair” button to fix the errors.
Try Professional Method to Open Corrupt PST File
If the Inbox Repair Tool is unable to fix the corruption, or if you prefer to use a more powerful tool, there are several third-party utilities available that can scan and repair corrupt PST files.
PST Repair Tool is the tool that gives you the right approach to repair the corrupt Outlook data file. Now, the best part about this tool is that you can use the tool to repair as well as recover the deleted data item from Outlook. Also using this tool one can easily repair any level of corruption.
So if you have any corrupt PST file then you can easily open corrupt Outlook PST file.
Conclusion
It is time to wrap up the blog post if you have corrupted PST and want to open corrupt Outlook PST file. Then you can go through this detailed guide to know the complete resolution.