How to Repair a Corrupt Exchange OST File?

Summary: OST files in Outlook are necessary for accessing mailbox items without an internet connection. If it gets corrupted, it can cause a serious problem and may also block users from accessing their mailbox data. To resolve this error, different methods are available. This blog will discuss the various causes of the issue and effective methods to repair corrupt Exchange OST files. Also, a professional PST Recovery Tool is recommended to get back access to your important mailbox data without any hassle.

OST (Offline Storage Table) files typically become inaccessible when they are corrupted, deleted, or damaged, leading to problems for users. So, repairing corrupted OST files becomes important to restore access. Before investigating solutions to repair a corrupt OST file or recover a mistakenly deleted file, let’s first look at the reason behind this issue.

What Causes an OST File to Become Corrupted?

There are various issues from which the OST files to become corrupted. Think about whether the file became corrupted following an update or if there were any errors in the profile. Furthermore, let’s look at some common reasons for corruption in the OST file.

• When your system is suddenly shut down, there might be a chance that your OST file gets corrupted.
• The updated and the latest version of the application causes issues with OST files, leading to corruption.
• OST file can become corrupted due to attacks from viruses and malicious software.
• The user accidentally removes or relocates files related to OST files, either within Outlook or on the system.
• Corruption can occur due to hardware failure caused by a Lack of

Compatibility.

How to Fix a Corrupted Outlook OST File?

Here, you will find the remedies to problems faced when opening the OST file. It explains the different manual methods to resolve this issue.

Method 1: Install Outlook Latest Version to Fix Corruption in OST File

Sometimes, an older Outlook version can lead to OST file corruption. So, Outlook should be updated regularly as soon as new updates are available. It also enhances Outlook’s features. To update Outlook, follow these steps:

1. Firstly, open Outlook & selectthe File option.
2. Now, go to the Office Account option.
3. In the Update Options, choose Update Now.

Method 2: Turning Off Conflicting Add-Ins in Outlook

The Add-Ins feature enhances the functionality for Outlook users. However, they may become incompatible, which makes it essential for the user to disable them. Do the steps below and restore corrupt OST files:

1. Again, run Outlook on your PC.
2. Click on the File option, and then select Option.
3. After that, pick Add-ins, then click Go.
4. Unmark all the add-ins and hit OK.

Then, restart MS Outlook and enable the add-ins. Removes any conflicting add-ins if found and verifies whether the OST file can be repaired.

Method 3: Create New Outlook Profile and Sync Old Data

Incorrect Outlook Profile settings can also create issues with the OST file. So, setting up a new profile and syncing the old data files is an effective method to repair the OST file. Follow the given simple steps so that you can sync old data to a new profile:

1. Firstly, access the Control Panel and choose the Mail option.
2. After that,select Show Profile and press Add to create a new profile.
3. Follow the required steps to enter the account details for the new profile and click Next.

This method will create a new Outlook profile and securely sync old data.

Method 4: Utilizing the Inbox Repair Tool to Repair Corrupt Exchange OST File

The Inbox Repair Tool (also known as SCANPST.exe) is an inbuilt Microsoft utility designed to identify and resolve errors or corruption in the Outlook data files, assuring their compatibility with Outlook. Here is how to fix a minor corrupted file:

1. Exit Outlook and shut down any related process.
2. Locate the SCANPST.exe tool on your system.
3. Later, launch the SCANPST.exe and begin to repair the damaged OST file.

All the above methods are free to use. However, they contain some limitations, which we discuss below.

Limitations of Inbox Repair Tool

• These methods might not work with protected OST files.
• They are unable to repair major corruption in OST files.
• Resolve OST files up to 2GB in size.
• Contain a significant risk of data loss.

Moreover, these manual methods can only resolve minor errors and corruption. But they carry a high risk of data loss if SCANPST.exe fails. So, utilizing professional software is the most secure option for restoring corrupt OST files and ensuring data safety.

Effective Solution to Repair Corrupt Exchange OST File

For a quick & effective solution, you can use the PST Recovery Tool. It simplifies the recovery processand retrieves all data items in their original structure. This top-notch utility gives the assurity of 100% accurate recovery without any data loss. Furthermore, it maintains data confidentiality, integrity, and accessibility during the recovery process. With its simple interface, both tech & non-tech user can easily perform this process.

Simple Steps to fix a corrupt file:

1. Firstly, download & install the PST Recovery Tool as an admin.
2. Click Open & select the PST files for repair
3. After that, choose recovery mode, either Standard or Advanced.
4. When the scanning process of the selected file is completed, click Ok.
5. Preview & select the folder to export and press the Save button.
6. Choose the saving format based on your requirements and hit OK.

Conclusion

In final analysis, we have explored various troubleshooting methods to fix OST files, but they may not be effective in case of server corruption or damage. So, using the recommended solution eliminates concern about the issues and allows you to repair corrupt Exchange OST file. This tool can allows you to recover email from orphaned, corrupted, or damaged OST file and also facilitates OST file import into Office 365 and Live Exchange.