Summary: Want to fix your Outlook PST files if they got broken by mistake? Then this blog will help you. In this technical blog, I’ll talk about all the important stuff about broken PST files so that after reading, you can keep your PST files safe and understand why Outlook files can get messed up. Furthermore, we will learn how to repair a corrupt PST file with a manual or with the help of the professional Aryson Outlook PST Repair tool. Let’s start this helpful blog right away. Download Now Purchase Now

What is the Outlook PST File?

The Outlook PST file is a personal storage file used to keep emails, contacts, calendar events, and other data. It’s like a data folder where you can store and arrange your Outlook information, such as emails, contacts, and calendar events, on your computer. This file format is also used to make backups of Outlook data, which can be easily moved between different computers.

However, sometimes the Outlook PST files can get damaged, causing data loss. Before I discuss how to repair corrupt PST files, let’s understand why PST files can become corrupt.

What are the Reasons for a Corrupt PST File?

It’s important to regularly back up your PST files to prevent data loss in the event of corruption. Here are some of the reasons of Outlook PST corruption:

Large PST files can get corrupted due to size restrictions.
Hard disk or storage device failures can corrupt PST files.
Unexpected shutdowns, software errors, and other issues can lead to PST file corruption.
Virus or malware infections can cause PST file corruption.
Network drive problems can ruin PST files.
Physical damage to the storage device can also corrupt PST files.

After understanding the above reason for PST file corruption, now take a look to understand how to save PST files from corruption briefly.

How to save PST files from corruption?

To prevent PST file corruption and ensure the safety of your Outlook data, consider the following measures:

Regularly backup your Outlook PST files to restore them if the PST file keeps getting corrupted.
Avoid storing too much data in one PST file to reduce the risk of corruption.
Always close Outlook properly to prevent PST file damage.
Store PST files on reliable storage to avoid connectivity issues.

By following these best practices, you can minimise the risk of PST file corruption and safeguard your Outlook data.

Best Methods to Repair a Corrupt PST File

Let’s find out the best and most reliable methods to repair corrupt PST files easily.

Recover Corrupted PST Using Outlook’s Repair Tool (SCANPST.EXE)

Microsoft provides the Inbox Repair tool, or SCANPST>EXE, to repair Outlook PST files within the Outlook program. It repairs errors in your PST files and also fixes minor corruptions within them. Follow the step-by-step guide, but before following the steps, make sure that Outlook is not running in the background. Then, go to the SCANPST.EXE Location. The location of SCANPST varies with each Outlook version.

Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

Steps to use SCANPST.exe

Now, double-click SCANPST.EXE to launch the software.
Then, click the Browse option to choose the corrupted Outlook PST file.
Here, select Start to begin scanning the PST file for problems.
Additionally, the utility will review the file structure and look for errors.

If SCANPST.EXE discovers any issues, select the Make backup of scanned file before repairing option, which provides a backup path location, and click Repair to start fixing the file.

Following the repair, a Repair Complete window will display; click OK to proceed.

Finally, open Outlook using the profile attached to the corrected PST file and check if the problems were successfully repaired.

The SCANPST.EXE application must be run numerous times for effective repair, and it can’t recover deleted data from within Outlook. This procedure can only repair minor corruptions; it may not resolve more significant difficulties, and technical knowledge is required to execute these steps correctly. Thus, if this method doesn’t help to repair a corrupt PST file according to your needs, then you can move forward to another method.

Repair a Corrupt PST File by Creating a New One

In this method, we will create a new PST file in MS Outlook and transfer all the data from the corrupted Outlook PST to the new PST file. You can use this method when your original PST files are not severely corrupted but have minor issues that prevent regular operation. Moreover, this approach is also useful when you can open the PST file but get errors or problems when accessing specific data. Let’s look at the instructions in a step-by-step manner.

The procedures to Repair a corrupt PST file are as follows:

Open Microsoft Outlook on your computer.
Go to the File tab, select Account Settings, and then click Account Settings again from the dropdown.
In the Account Settings window, head over to the Data Files tab and click Add to create a new Outlook Data File (.pst).
Enter a name for the new PST file, choose where you want to save it, and click OK.
After adding the new PST, select it and click Set as Default to make it your primary data file.
When Outlook asks if you want to change the default data file, click Yes.
Close the Account Settings window. The new, empty PST file will now appear in the Outlook folder pane on the left.
Now, go to File > Open & Export > Open Outlook Data File, and browse to open your old PST file.
Inside the old PST, navigate to the folder containing the emails you want to move. Press Ctrl+A to select all messages.
Hold the Ctrl key and drag and drop the selected emails into a folder under your new PST file.
Once done, verify that all emails have been successfully copied to the new PST.
Finally, restart Outlook to refresh the changes and ensure everything is working properly.

This approach can’t be effective if the old PST file is severely corrupted and can’t be opened. Additionally, there is also a risk of missing some data or not being able to recover certain items. You can select a different approach to repair a corrupt PST file if you are not satisfied with this one.

Repairing Outlook Data Files Using the Outlook PST Repair Tool

The Outlook PST Repair tool is a reliable and effective solution for restoring mailbox emails from PST files. This tool recovers all mailbox items from PST files that are corrupted, damaged, or inaccessible. That includes emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, journals, etc. Additionally, it offers several features to simplify complex tasks and ensure accuracy. This tool allows you to preview the data from your corrupted PST files, and it allows you to repair multiple PST files in bulk without losing data. Let’s talk about how to recover a corrupt PST file in bulk in a hassle-free manner.

The procedures to repair a corrupt PST file are as follows:

First, download, install, and run the PST Repair Tool.
Then, click Open to browse the Outlook PST file.
Now, choose the recovery mode and hit OK to start the scanning process.
In the folder list, choose which you want to restore and tap Save.
Pick the PST format or another format that you want.
Opt for the additional features if you need them.
After all, click OK to start the recovery process for the mailbox data.

Please note that the technical experts recommend this tool for you to download on your device for free to check its performance. Moreover, if you have multiple PST files and want to merge them, make sure to read this guide on how to merge Outlook PST.

Conclusion

This article discusses various methods on how to repair a corrupt PST file using both manual and technical approaches. While there are several manual methods available, we focused on four reliable techniques in this blog that can effectively help you repair corrupt PST files. You can choose the method that best suits your needs. If you’re not very technical and need to repair multiple corrupt PST files without difficulty, the automated method is the ideal choice for you. Now, you can select the method that fits your requirements.