Microsoft Outlook, the popular deskop email client stores information such as email messages, calendar, appointments, tasks, and other email related data in special files called Personal folder files or PST files. This allows users to easily transfer Outlook data from one computer to another without much hassle. However, if something wrong happens to these PST files, you will definitely find yourself in trouble. When the PST files are damaged, Outlook will lose its stability and will start to display error messages.
The normal limit for a PST file is 2 GB. When this size limit is exceeded, there is a great chance of the files getting corrupted. In such a situation, where your PST files get corrupted, Outlook lets users to repair those damaged files and hence fix the issue. Microsoft Outlook comes built in with a special Outlook repair utility called the “Inbox Repair Tool” that will help you to fix and restore damaged PST files. This Inbox Repair Tool is a single-file executable application which can be found in the Outlook folder under the name “Scanpst.exe”. The default location of this file is “C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033”.
Troubleshoot Using Inbox Repair Tool
When you run the Inbox Repair Tool, make sure that your Microsoft Outlook is not open.
• Close your Outlook application.
• Run the Inbox Repair Tool by double-clicking the“Scanpst.exe” file.
• Browse to the damaged PST file. Select this PST file that you want to repair and click the “Start” button on your repair tool.
• The Inbox Repair Tool scans the PST files for errors and fixes them, if any.
The default location of these PST files is is
"C:\Documents and Settings\USER_NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\".
Here the “USER_NAME” refers to your Windows login name. After scanning, the repair utility usually informs you of important notifications. After you have repaired the damaged PST file using the repair utility, you need to restore this, so that Outlook can access it without any problems.
Often when Outlook PST files are corrupted, Outlook will have problems opening your message folders or send or receive messages. Restore these repaired PST files to the “Lost and Found” folder under the “Folder List” in “View or Go” menu. Try these troubleshooting steps to perform Outlook repair relating to damaged PST files. If things go beyond your control, get assistance from the Microsoft Outlook Support team which will help you fix your issue.
