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Repair Your Outlook PST or OST file
Originally posted on February
13th, 2003
PackRats beware!
I guess by now if you're reading
this you probably know that Outlook has storage limits... It's
2 gigabytes or 2,000,000,000 bytes. The reason for this was the
early file limitiations of Windows 95.
Anyway, how do you fix it? You
have 2 tools available at your disposal.
1) Microsoft's Inbox Repair tool.
2) Microsoft's PST/OST Crop Utility
Using the Inbox Repair Tool
To fix corrupted PST files, you can use the Inbox Repair Tool.
However, the tool isn’t always able to repair every PST
file. It works by repairing the PST file’s header and then
deleting anything in the file that it doesn’t understand.
So if a PST file’s header is damaged, as may be the case
for corruption that occurs during a version upgrade, the tool
should have no trouble making the repair. But if the data within
the file is corrupt, the Inbox Repair Tool will likely destroy
what’s left of the file. That's why it's always good to
make a backup of the PST file before running the Inbox Repair
Tool.
Since I don't know which version
of Windows you are using, you can do a file search for a file
called SCANPST.EXE. Find this file and click the browse button
to the .PST file or .OST file and repair it.
Using the Oversized PST And
OST Crop Utility
If that doesn't do the trick, then you need the big guns... enter
the MS PST/OST Crop Utility.
Another possible cause of corruption
is that a PST file has a 2-GB size limit. Once this limit is
exceeded, corruption occurs instantly. You can’t initially
fix this problem with the Inbox Repair Tool. Instead, you’ll
have to use the Oversized PST And OST Crop Utility first, and
then follow up with the Inbox Repair Tool. The crop utility works
by deleting about 25 MB of data from the file to bring the file
back within specs. Use this tool as a last resort, because you
can't control what data you lose when using it.
Because of its destructive nature,
the tool is unavailable for download. You can only acquire the
tool by calling Microsoft’s Product Support Service line
at 800-936-4900. Microsoft charges about $200 for calls to this
number, and when you call, an operator will ask you for a credit
card number. According to numerous sources, if you explain to
the operator that you just need a copy of the Oversized PST And
OST Crop Utility, but don't need help using the tool, you can
get the tool without being billed. You can get more detailed
information from Microsoft by reading these Knowledge Base articles:
Q197315
and Q296088.
If you're looking for Outlook PST file fixer, I found the
new download page on Microsoft's website. Click
here. If that doesn't help you, come back here and I'll send
you a copy. For more info about fixing your broke Outlook file
look here...http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=296088
If you are feeling nauseous about
this endeavor and would like a professional to deal with it,
you can burn a CD and send it to me and I'll fix it for you.
I charge $95 per hour for these services.
Michael
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