How to Fix Damaged Outlook PST file know with ScanPST & other helpful Tool
Are you having corrupted PST file and don’t have idea to open it. Outlook data file may corrupted due to many reasons but if you don’t repair it in mean time then you may lose your crucial emails and other data. Fortunately, Microsoft provides the ScanPST.exe tool to scan & fix PST file. In this blog, we will help that how can you work with it and repair corrupt PST file.
General Issue with MS Outlook Data File
Outlook database file cannot store lots of mailbox data files than its maximum file size limit. Sometimes, when PST file is filled upto its maximum size limit then users face performance issue. When Outlook data file cross its file size limit, PST becomes prone to corruption. And there is no way to open a corrupted PST file in MS Outlook. Apart from corruption, an extra-large PST file may cause slow performance issue of Outlook.
“When, you detect that the PST file has reached its maximum size limit then you should split PST file in multiple or two parts. It will assist to protect the PST Outlook data file from corruption and if you notice that your PST file is full with duplicate items data then you should remove them. MS Outlook also provides function to compact PST file for reducing its file size.”
Damaged PST File
But when your PST file is corrupted then you have only one option left – fix it. PST file size limitation is the first reason of corruption and some other reasons are – sudden closure of Outlook client, hard disk corrupted, software malfunction, virus attack, etc. Corruption is forever harmful since it might reason data loss. When users try to open a corrupted PST file, they get mentioned below message –
If you also get the above mentioned message during the open PST file in Outlook. Then first of all try the given steps –
- Go to PST file store location by File menu>> Info >> Account Settings >> Data Files.
- As you locate the PST file, right click on it & go with its properties.
- Choose Compatibility Mode under the properties section. Then hit on it to clear down entire Comparability mode checkboxes. Now go with Apply & OK.
- Then restart your computer & check if everything is good.
The ScanPST EXE Tool (Inbox Repair Tool)
Still, you are facing the same issue, then you can try the Inbox Repair Tool which provided by MS Outlook to scan & repair PST file. It is also known as ScanPST.exe tool that enables to –
- Repair header corruption problem & rebuild the file structure.
- Scan corrupted PST file for corruption errors and solve them.
- Re-index & repair PST file by deleting the emails & invalid indices.
Whenever you face corruption in Outlook data file, you should try Inbox Repair Tool. Before running it on your computer, you should locate its executable file (.exe)
ScanPST EXE location
You should have knowledge about the location of ScanPST.exe Tool to run it successfully and you can browse the ScanPST location in the provided locations according to your MS Outlook edition –
In MS Outlook 2019
- 32-bit Windows OS :C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office19
- 64-bit Windows OS :C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office19
For MS Outlook 2016
- 32-bit Windows OS :C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
- 64-bit Windows OS :C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
For Outlook 2013
- 32-bit Windows:C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
- 64-bit Windows:C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
For MS Outlook 2010
- 32-bit Windows:C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
- 64-bit Windows :C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
For Outlook 2007
- 32-bit Windows:C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
- 64-bit Windows:C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12
Use Inbox Repair Tool to fix corrupt PST file
Firstly, locate the SCANPST tool, close MS Outlook if open on your system. Then follow the given steps –
- Double click on the ScanPST.exe tool
- A newly Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool window will be opened, click on browse button to select corrupt PST file
- After that click on Start button to scan corrupt PST file for corruption
- Scanning process will start and wait for completing the process.
- As the process completed, you can check the errors and corruptions. (You can save backup of scanned PST file at your desired place, just tick on the provided Make backup of scanned file before repairing box.) Click on repair button.
- A completion message “Repair Complete” is shown there, click on OK button to confirm it.
Alternative Solution – How to Recover Damaged Outlook PST File
Mostly, SCANPST.EXE tool successfully help to solve how to repair corrupted PST file Outlook 2013, 2019, 2016, 2010, 2007, etc. issue but sometimes it fails due some technical or server corruption issues. The Inbox repair tool cannot recover deleted emails from Outlook data file. If you would have requirement for Outlook Recovery from all corruption and accidently deleted files; then you can use PST Recovery Tool that is reliable solution to repair corrupted PST file and recover deleted PST files. It scans, repair file and save in new PST and other file format. You can also try it with free 25 items of Outlook recovery. It easily support ANII & UNICODE both file format for repairing PST files. It has lots of developed & advanced functions to successfully recover deleted items of Outlook without any change. Therefore, clear all your doubts and solve how to fix damaged Outlook PST file query with above mentioned solutions.
