Alternatives to Repair a Microsoft Outlook PST File With The Inbox Repair Tool

In today’s digital era, email messages are the only mode of professional communication in global workplaces. It is also worth mentioning that global corporate houses favour Microsoft Outlook as the preferred email client owing to its advanced features. Ever wonder what forms the backbone of Outlook. The answer to this query is its data file formats viz. Offline Storage Table and Personal Storage Table. Both these file formats store the entire mailbox data. It is worth mentioning that .ost files are more secure than the .pst files due to encryption.

PST files are vital for flawless Outlook operations. But these files can become corrupted which can lead to multiple operational errors in this email client. Some factors that can result in corruption in .pst files range from corruption, virus attacks and large file sizes to power outages and abrupt system shutdowns. To address such a scenario, we can employ a built-in utility called ScanPST.exe or the Inbox Repair Tool. But this utility has some shortcomings. Firstly, it is a time-consuming, manual process. Secondly, it is apt for addressing smaller .pst files (2 GB or less). Thirdly, it may struggle to repair severely damaged data files. Now the query crops up what is next after ScanPST failure. Worry not! We can use any third-party PST repair tool. This guide will shed light on alternatives to repair a Microsoft Outlook PST file with the Inbox Repair tool.

What Can Lead to PST File Corruption?

Before jumping hurriedly towards exploring methods to repair a damaged .pst file, let’s decode factors that can lead to this stage. Some of them are listed below:

• An oversized file: Every Outlook version has some file size limit. Crossing such limits will lead to file corruption. While the limit was 2 GB for 2002 and earlier versions, it was 20 GB for Outlook 2003 as well as 2007. The file size limit for Outlook 2010 and later is 50 GB.
• Improper closure: Microsoft has outlined a procedure for properly closing down the Outlook app. Failing to follow it may prevent the email client from saving modifications to the .pst file. This may lead to corruption.
• Power outage: Power failure while Outlook is active may also lead to corruption in the .pst file.
• Conflict by add-ins: Plugins or add-ins sourced from unauthorized sources can also damage the .pst file. This happens because such plugins or add-ins interfere with the default functioning of this email client.
• Virus attack: When the user downloads any attachment with a virus, it may lead to corruption issues in PST files.

How to Repair PST Using the Inbox Repair Tool:

To fix PST file corruption, there is a built-in utility called the Inbox Repair tool. It is just like the free first aid available to Outlook users that runs multiple scans to analyse the file for any errors. This free utility first reviews the file header. Then it inspects the file’s internal folder structure. The utility then validates mailbox folders like email messages, contacts, etc. After this stage, the utility diagnoses and then repairs the damaged data file (.pst).

The step-by-step guide is listed below:

• Shutdown Outlook by following the prescribed procedure and locating and run the utility

• Choose the file and start the scan process.

• After scanning, the utility will exhibit errors and inconsistencies.
• To resolve the errors, click on the Repair button to proceed.

• Back up the PST file by clicking the checkbox option.
• After the process completion, the Inbox Repair tool will exhibit a detail of the findings. Evaluate the results and restart the application. 

Limitations of the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST):

This built-in utility is recommended for repairing files with low-level corruption (up to 2 GB). It may fail to repair a damaged .pst file with severe or complex corruption issues. Its main shortcomings are listed below:

• Time consuming: It consumes a lot of productive hours as this utility runs multiple scans.
• Perfect for small files: ScanPST is apt for repairing small .pst files. It may fail to fix an oversized Outlook data file (.pst).
• Unable to fix complex corruption: ScanPST is capable of solving issues involving minor corruption. This utility may fail to repair a severely-corrupted data file like in case of a malware attack.
• Technical expertise: This manual task demands a level of technical expertise. Any mistake not only means a repeat of the entire process but also a loss of crucial data.
• Data loss: One of the major drawbacks of this manual method is the risk of data loss.

Alternatives to Repair a Microsoft Outlook PST File with the Inbox Repair Tool

In this part of the post, we will discuss some substitutes for ScanPST.exe. Some of them are listed below:

1. Restore from Backup: If the Outlook user is following proactive approaches by creating regular backups of the data files, then he can recover a corrupted PST file by restoring it. This approach doesn’t repair the damaged .pst file.

2. Create a New PST File and Import Data: Another alternative to ScanPST is the creation of a new PST file in Outlook and import data from the corrupted file. Follow the below guide:

• Explore the Outlook application.
• Create a new PST file via File > Account Settings > Data Files.
• Use the Import/Export feature to transfer mailbox items from the corrupted file into the new one.

3. Use Third-Party PST Repair Tools: We have already discussed in the earlier portion of the guide that the inbox repair tool is best suited for cases involving low-level corruption in the .pst file. This utility may fail to address severe and complex corruption cases. In such a scenario, we can utilize some third-party PST repair tool like Stellar Repair for Outlook. Such tools are not only easy to use but are based on advanced algorithms to deal repair of a severely damaged .pst file. These repair tools are also capable of recovering even deleted or inaccessible mailbox items. What more? These tools also maintain the integrity and structure of your data.

Conclusion:

We have discussed that the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) is best for solving minor corruption issues in the Outlook data file (.pst). It may fail while addressing complex corruption issues. We also shed light on other alternatives such as restoring from backups and creating a new PST file. If all these methods fail to repair the file, then we must use any third-party PST repair tool. Stellar Repair for Outlook is a reliable tool that features a friendly GUI. It quickly scans diagnoses and fixes issues in the Outlook data file. This software is capable of fixing errors even in a large PST file.