PST File Repair | How to Repair corrupt PST files

In most instances, when you are unable to open your .pst (Personal Folders File) then it usually means that it is corrupted. When this happens, it is advisable to scan .pst using the Scanpst.exe which is usually the repair tool box that diagnoses the errors and repairs them as well. It is important to understand that the Scanpst.exe only scans the .pst and the .ost files and not the mailbox that the server is running on.

This is a very effective tool mainly because it determines whether or not the structure of the file is intact. In the event that the structure is not as it is supposed to be, this tool resets all the structures of the files and consequently rebuilds all the headers. The Scanpst.exe location is usually in the drive: \Program Files \Microsoft office \OFFICE12. The tool is usually installed with the Outlook.

Repairing a Corrupt Outlook with Scanpst.exe:

1. You should first of all exit Outlook in case it is still running.
2. Double click on the Scanpst.exe which is normally located at the drive: \Program Files \Microsoft office \OFFICE12.
3. Enter the files name that you want to scan or if you do not have the name of the file in mind, you can click Browse to search for it.
4. Specify the log options that are available for the scan procedure that you want to perform by clicking Options. Then click Start in order for the procedure to commence.
5. In the event that there are some existent errors in the particular .pst file, you will be prompted to begin the repair procedure in order to fix them.  A back-up file is normally created and it is advisable to change its name and location so that you may be able to recover it easily.
6. Click Repair then start Outlook with the profile containing the file that you were repairing. You will find all the items that have been repaired on the folder named Lost and Found and whatever will be missing could not be repaired.

If Outlook is giving you problems, a program like Stellar Outlook PST Repair, with an easy-to-use interface, might be the solution you are looking for.

Often when you use Microsoft Outlook as your default mail handler, you may need to create different email profiles for different accounts. This may be if you use different names or accounts for professional and personal use. Or it may be when other family members, too, use the same mail handler. You may need to create a new email profile when files in outlook get damaged or corrupted. This will also make it easier to recover damaged pst files.

How do you go about it?

Go to Control Panel and see the mail setting icon. Click on it to open. You will get a dialog box. Go to mail profiles and add another profile with another name or account. Then associate the right email account with the name or profile. You will have to add details of the varied accounts, including server details. After you have finished adding all the required details, you can ‘finish’ and exit, having created a new profile. When you create a different profile, you minimize the risk of having damaged pst file.

Recovering a damaged pst file

Emails are saved as pst files. Occasionally these files can get damaged or corrupted and then they cannot be opened. This can be a major problem, particularly if you keep all your mail to go through whenever you want, or simply store the mail, thinking your storage is unlimited.

Before you do anything to recover a damaged pst file, always back up the file in another location. Then you can use the Inbox Repair Tool which comes with MS Outlook. Unfortunately, this works only in 50 percent of the cases. Sometimes, you can get away with only a damaged header, other times the message has completely gone – that is why it is important to back up first before using the tool.

If you cannot recover damaged pst file with this utility, you may need to buy a utility which will work more efficiently and recover damaged pst file.

When tackling the issue of which tool to pick when you require repairing .pst files windows 7, the MS Backup utility undoubtedly emerges as the most popular. It is relatively important to take this issue into deep consideration due to the fact that emails, files and folders that contain data that is important need protection. There are instances where the backup files that you saved become corrupted too. This happens when there is presence of a virus which corrupts the software which in turns leads to loss of the files. In such a situation, this repair option comes in handy and proves to be the best and this is according to the popularity that it boasts of. This is a program that you can also get in the internet on some websites that allow you to download it straight to your personal computer. In general, the program normally comes with its own specifications such as a file size of 1.29 MB and it is the 5.2 version.

While looking for the best tools for repairing .pst files windows 7, it is important to also take into consideration the technique that the various programs that you have your eye on have.

It is advisable to pick a tool that has an advanced back up feature that will incorporate solutions that can recover even the inaccessible files and data.  There is usually software that is used in the designing of the program that enables it to restore any files and data that the Windows backup tool failed to.  In addition to this, you must also be on the look out for a tool that has the feature that will enable it to repair any Microsoft back-up files that may have been corrupted in the process.

The internet is a resourceful place to get these tools and it is therefore important to look out for the following features while choosing any of the available tools for the repair procedure. Ensure that you get a tool that has a relatively simple to use interface. When you are in the process of repairing .pst files windows 7, you should ensure that the tool you choose also has a ‘file search option’ which is very essential in assistance. Moreover, you will also find other features such as the option of repairing unlimited sizes of files and ability to view the file contents of the back-up file.