How to Recover Corrupted OST Files: Tools and Techniques

Offline Storage Table or OST file gets automatically created when Outlook profile is set up initially. It is a local copy of mailbox having all the information stored in it. However, OST files can easily become corrupted, creating serious data loss and other issues. There are multiple reasons which causes corruption in OST files. Don’t worry! We got you covered. Here we will describe some best tools and techniques to recover corrupted OST files data. Let’s delve into the topic and find the best solution.

Why OST files get corrupted?

Here is a list of reasons why OST files get corrupted:

• Power failure: If sudden power failure takes place, then the OST file may get corrupted.
• Virus attacks: Malware and virus attacks cause damage to the OST file, leading to corruption.
• Human errors: Accidental deletion, human faults and changing OST file location can cause corruption too.
• Incompatible add-ins: Sometimes corruption occurs due to faulty and incompatible add-ins installed in Outlook.
• Network issue: If the internet connection is not strong, then it may cause delay and problems in syncing data files.
• Oversized mailbox: OST files that exceed the default size limit are prone to corruption.
• Abrupt shutdown: If Outlook is closed abruptly, then it may lead to severe issues like corruption.

Methods to recover corrupted OST files

There are methods to recover corrupted OST files. Here are the detailed steps mentioned of each method:

Method 1. Repair OST file using ScanOST

ScanOST can be used to repair minor corruption issues in OST file. Here are the steps to use ScanOST.exe:

Step 1. First, close Outlook properly.

Step 2. Locate ScanOST.exe on your system.

Note: The default location of ScanOST.exe is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office (version)\ScanOST.exe

Step 3. Choose the Outlook profile having corrupted OST file.

Step 4. Select all the folders or required folders to scan corruption.

Step 5. Now, select the Repair errors checkbox.

Step 6. Click Begin Scan to start repairing corrupted OST file.

Step 7. After successfully repairing OST file, click OK.

Method 2. Remove faulty add-ins

Sometimes, faulty or incompatible add-ins cause OST file corruption issues. Fix this issue with the below steps:

Step 1. Launch Outlook and click on File >Options.

Step 2. Click on Add-ins and select COM Add-ins > click Go.

Step 3. Uncheck all add-ins and click OK.

Step 4. Restart Outlook and see whether the issue is resolved or not.

Method 3. Recreate OST file

Here are the steps to recreate the OST file again. Follow them carefully:

Step 1. Open Outlook and click File.

Step 2. Click on Account Settings > Account Settings.

Step 3. Click on Data Files and select the required OST file and click Open File Location.

Step 4. Close Outlook and select the OST file, then right-click on it and select Rename.

Step 5. Add .bak extension and hit Enter.

Step 6. Open Outlook and it will automatically create a new OST file.

Method 4. Disabling and re-enabling Cached Exchange Mode

Another method is to disable and re-enable Cached Exchange Mode. Here are the methods outlined below:

Step 1. Open Control Panel and click Mail (Microsoft Outlook).

Step 2. Select Email Accounts.

Step 3. Select the Exchange Outlook Profile and click Change.

Step 4. Uncheck the Use Cached Exchange Mode option.

Step 5. Reopen Outlook and re-enable the Cached Exchange Mode again.

Method 5. Use Windows System Restore

In some instances, Windows System Restore can help in resolving corruption issues. It takes back the system to the time when OST files were healthy. Here are the steps to do so:

Step 1. Go to Control Panel and select System.

Step 2. Now, click on System protection.

Step 3. Select System Restore.

Step 4. Then follow the on-screen instructions.

Limitations

Manual methods come with several limitations. Some of them are:

• Permanently deleted items can’t be recovered using manual methods.
• ScanOST.exe can repair OST files with minor corruption issues only.
• Technical skills and knowledge are required to carry out manual methods.
• The manual processes are time-consuming and lengthy.

Conclusion

Repairing and recovering OST files data is complex if not done with proper methods. Moreover, the manual methods we discussed have some limitations. So, opting for an OST to PST converter software is perfect in this situation. This tool is equipped with advanced features, which makes the process error-free. Additionally, it provides different saving options including file formats and email servers.