Repair Corrupt Outlook PST Files: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you use Microsoft Outlook for emails and calendars, you've probably heard of PST files. These files are super important because they hold all your necessary stuff in Outlook. Sometimes, they can have problems like not opening properly or getting messed up. But don't worry! This guide is here to help you repair corrupt PST files using the Cigati PST Recovery Tool.

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This comprehensive blog will elaborate on manual and automated approaches. But before proceeding further, we will discuss the possible reasons for the corruption in your Outlook PST files.?

Reasons for Outlook Corrupted PST Files

PST files are helpful but can be fragile. They can get messed up if something goes wrong while being updated.

• Unstable Networks: If your internet connection could be more steady, it can mess up data transfers when Outlook is talking to its server, making the file go wonky.
• Abrupt Outlook Shutdowns: Closing Outlook suddenly, especially when it's busy doing stuff with a PST file, can mess up the file.
• Viruses and Malware: Nasty stuff like viruses and malware can sneak in and mess with your files, including PST files.
• Power Problems: If your computer loses power unexpectedly while Outlook run, it can mess up the PST file.
• Hard Drive Issues: Your computer's hard drive might have bad spots that can wreck files, including PST ones.
• Oversized PST Files: Older Outlook versions had a size limit for PST files. If your file gets too big, it can start acting up and eventually break.
• Software Glitches: Sometimes, it's not the file's fault but Outlook works up. Crashes or bugs can mess with PST files.

After understanding all the reasons, we will proceed further towards the methods to fix the problem.?

Two Easy Methods to Repair Corrupted Outlook PST Files

The following section will elaborate on two solutions to fix the corruption. Just stay focused to get your solution.?

#1. Fix Corrupt PST File Manually

Outlook has a handy tool called ScanPST.exe, also known as the inbox repair tool, that can help fix broken PST files. ScanPST, the inbox repair tool in Outlook, mainly works on fixing internal data structure errors within a .pst file. If ScanPST finds a part of the structure which damaged beyond repair, it removes that part. This might mean losing a specific item in Outlook if it's tied to the damaged part. It doesn't happen often, and ScanPST keeps a log of what it does, so you'll know if anything gets removed. The changes you'll notice most are at a higher level like folders and messages being fixed or organized better.

• First, close Outlook properly before starting the repair process.
• After that, find the location of the Microsoft Outlook inbox repair tool on your computer based on your Outlook version (2016, 2013, 2010, or 2007).
• Then, open the repair tool and click the Browse button to select the corrupted PST file.
• Next, start the scanning process by clicking Next in the repair tool's interface.
• After scanning, choose the Repair option to fix any damages seen in the PST file.
• Once the repair is done successfully, a message will appear prompting you to click OK to finish the process.

Here, we have accomplished the manual approach to repair corrupt PST files. However, using this manual method can be problematic and may lead to various issues.?

Downsides of Performing the Manual Method

The following section will discuss a few drawbacks of performing it manually. Some limitations of this method include:

• Complex steps can be confusing for non-technical users.
• Potential risk of data loss if the repair process isn't done correctly.
• Limited ability to handle severe corruption issues in PST files.
• Time-consuming process compared to using automated PST repair tools.

#2. Automated Tool to Fix Corrupt PST File in Easy Steps

Cigati PST Recovery Software is a reliable tool for fixing Outlook Data files (.pst) that might be broken or not working right. It can recover everything from these files, like emails, calendars, contacts, tasks, and journals, even if they are damaged or you can't access them normally. Apart from that, it offers three scanning modes - Standard, Advanced, and Deep - which can even find and bring back deleted emails.

Steps to Repair Corrupt Outlook PST File

• First, download and open the Outlook PST Repair Tool on your computer.
• After that, use the Open option to find and select your Outlook PST file.
• Then, choose the Recovery mode you want ( Standard, Advanced, or Deep) and click OK to begin scanning.
• From the list of folders, pick the ones you want to recover and click Save.
• Next, decide the file format you want for the recovered data, like EML, DBX, MSG, PST, MBOX, or others.
• Explore additional features provided by the software to enhance your recovery process.
• Finally, click OK to fix the Corrupt PST File.

Conclusion

Fixing a broken PST file is necessary to get back your Outlook stuff and keep working smoothly. Just follow the steps to repair corrupt PST Files in this guide and be proactive in protecting your files to avoid more problems later. Make sure to back up your data often and watch out for anything that could mess up your Outlook data.