How to Repair Damaged PST File Without Losing Data – Five Practical Approaches!

Yes, it is possible to fix the PST files that are corrupted or damaged. Here, we are describing some viewpoints on this topic. Keep reading and you will get a relevant solution for the same! At the beginning of this article, we are introducing an inbuilt tool of Microsoft Outlook i.e. scanPST.exe. also named as Outlook Inbox Repair tool. However, for severe PST damage, scanPST.exe may not be sufficient. We’ll explore alternative ways that can effectively recover your data. 

Let’s have an insight into a genuine user query – 

I understand your frustration with the PST file corruption. Try using the built-in scanpst.exe tool to repair it. Further, we will discuss the same. But before we continue, have you reviewed the rationale for this? If not, please refer to the next section first.

Understanding PST File Corruption – Common Causes!

Due to several reasons, we need to repair damaged PST file, and the below points outline the same:

• Large File Size: PST files can get damaged if they exceed the limit, especially in older Outlook versions. So to avoid this issue it is recommended to split Outlook PST file into smaller parts. 
• Improper Shutdown: Closing Outlook suddenly or turning off your computer while it’s open can cause damage.
• Hardware Issues: Problems with your computer’s hard drive or memory can corrupt PST files.
• Software Conflicts: Other programs, like antivirus software, can interfere with Outlook and damage PST files.
• Virus or Malware: Viruses or malware can corrupt PST files, so keep your antivirus software updated.
• Outlook Bugs or Glitches: Errors or faulty add-ins in Outlook can lead to PST file corruption.
• Improper Use: Using third-party tools incorrectly can damage PST files.
• File System Issues: Problems with your computer’s file system or permissions can cause PST file corruption.
• Network Issues: If your PST file is on a network drive, network problems can corrupt it.

Now, Explore the Five Ways to Repair Damaged PST File!

The five best manual tricks can help to fix the corrupted PST efficiently. The below sections describe the same. Let’s take a look:

#Approach 1. Inbox Repair tool

Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair tool automatically gets installed while installing MS Outlook. It validates PST database files and rectifies error codes of Outlook.

If your Outlook account is configured with IMAP /POP3 and PST files got corrupted. This tool might assist you in fixing it for free.

Let’s begin with its step-by-step manual process to repair a damaged PST file:

• Open the Run command
• Enter the path: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office
• Double-click on the SCANPST.EXE file.
• Enter or browse the path of your .pst file and then click Start.

Alternatively, simply search for ScanPST in your Windows file explorer and perform 4th step.

Know the Shortcomings of the Inbox Repair Tool – 

The Inbox Repair tool needs to be run multiple times to completely repair damaged PST file. It consists of scanning in eight phases and generates three files such as .bak,.log, and .pst. Sometimes the user gets annoyed while executing this method as it is time-consuming & complex. Also, some other limitations are mentioned below.

• It can’t recover highly corrupted PST files.
• It can only fix the header section.
• It is unable to repair a huge size Outlook data file.

Emails are important! Especially for business sectors, email messages can be a lifeline. So, the Inbox Repair tool isn’t a reliable option for many users. So, we have four other solutions to completely repair the .pst files.

#Approach 2. Create a New PST File & Import the Data to Repair Damaged PST File

Creating a New PST and Importing Data is a straightforward method that works if you can access and import data from the damaged file. Here are the stepwise guidelines to follow:

Phase 1. Create a New PST File:

• Open Outlook.
• Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
• Click on the Data Files tab.
• Click Add and choose a location to save the new PST file.
• Give it a name and click OK.

Phase 2. Import Data:

• Go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
• Choose Import from another program or file and click Next.
• Select Outlook Data File (.pst) and click Next.
• Browse to the damaged PST file and choose the appropriate options for duplicate items.
• Click Finish to start the import process.

#Approach 3. Outlook’s Built-in Features

Using Outlook’s Built-in Features focuses on leveraging Outlook’s tools and options to manage the data and address minor issues to repair damaged PST file. Let’s have a look at its instructions:

Phase 1. Repair Individual Items:

• Sometimes, issues are with specific emails or folders. Try moving emails and folders from the damaged PST to a new PST file manually.
• Create a new PST file (as described above) and drag and drop items from the damaged PST to the new one.

Phase 2. Optimize Outlook:

• Compact the PST file to help with minor corruption issues.
• Go to File > Account Settings > Account Settings.
• Click on the Data Files tab.
• Select the damaged PST file and click Settings.
• Go to the General tab and click Compact Now.

#Approach 4. Opt for Windows File Recovery Tools to Repair Damaged PST File

Using Windows File Recovery Tools deals with file system-level issues and recovery methods. If the PST file is severely corrupted, Windows File Recovery tools might be able to help, but results can vary. For example:

Check Disk Utility:

• Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
• Run chkdsk /f followed by the drive letter where the PST file is located (e.g., chkdsk C: /f).
• This may repair file system errors that could be causing problems.

Restore from Backup:

If you have a backup of the PST file, consider restoring it from the backup.

#Approach 5. Manual Repair Techniques

Manual Repair Techniques involve hands-on, technical approaches and are typically used as a last resort to repair damaged PST file.

• Hex Editor:

This is a technical approach and needs significant knowledge to work with. For novice users, it is suggested to not consider this, because one mistake can delete the data permanently.

• Change PST File Format:

In some cases, changing the file extension or converting it to another format (like .ost) and then back to .pst will resolve the issue. Remember, this can be risky and may not always work:

Additional Considerations:

• Verify that Outlook is updated to the latest version.
• Reinstalling Outlook might also help if the problem is related to the application rather than the PST file itself.
• Always have a backup or download PST file from Office 365, to ensure data continuity, even if your data is corrupt.

Author’s Suggestion!

Corruption of important data can cause havoc in business environments. Thankfully, Microsoft provides a native tool to take care of corrupt PST files of its Outlook email client. However, depending on this tool can cause a serious problem. The Outlook inbox tool can’t repair the major corruption in PST files. As a result, the user needs to try alternatives to get the job done. That’s why we discussed four other ways to repair damaged PST files without any size limitation. They can fix corruption irrespective of its status (high/low).