A PST file is a Personal Storage Folder file used by Microsoft Outlook for POP3 and IMAP accounts to store emails, contacts, journals, tasks, and other data items. There are times when users get various error prompts while launching the Outlook application, and most of them occur due to corruption in the PST file. But, the question is what makes a PST file corrupted and how to repair PST file without Outlook ?
In this article, we are going to answer all the queries related to the same and disclose a simple technique that will allow us to recover data from a corrupted or damaged PST. So let’s get started!
Why Do PST Files Get Corrupted?
If you receive any error messages when attempting to access PST files from Outlook, this is a clear indication that the PST file is corrupted. There might be several reasons that can result in a corrupted PST and some of them are mentioned below :
- Sometimes users save their PST files on network servers for their convenience, and when any of these servers faces any internal issue, it makes the PST files inaccessible. In addition, server downtime and the crash also corrupt or damage an Outlook PST file.
- Since all the local hard drives generate bad sectors, when the PST files get stored on the hard drive that has bad sectors, the corrupted PST file becomes corrupted. After this, users cannot access the data stored within the PST and search for queries like how to repair PST file without Outlook.
- Performing improper recovery operations, virus attacks, sudden system shutdown, and installation of malicious programs on the system also lead to PST file corruption.
- Older versions of Microsoft Outlook only allow you to save up to 5GB-20GB of data. Hence, when the PST file exceeds the defined size limit, it gets corrupted.
- Most of the time, users close Outlook in an organized manner after saving all the modifications in the PST file and clicking on Close. But, when the Outlook gets closed suddenly while performing any operation on PST then, it makes the PST file corrupted.
How to Repair PST File Without Outlook?
Inbox Repair Tool (opens in a new tab) Inbox Repair Tool, or Scanpst.exe, is an in-built utility offered by Microsoft to repair corrupted PST files. However, this works only to recover minor-level corrupted PST files and repairs only the header part of the PST file. So, if your PST file is severely damaged, then Scanpst.exe is not the right choice for you.
In such a case, you need to take help from a trusted third-party solution like Outlook PST Recovery Software to repair PST file without Outlook. This is one of the best ways to recover emails, contacts, tasks, calendars, notes, attachments, and all other data items of PST file without losing a single bit of data. The software is designed with highly programmed algorithms so that it allows users to recover minor as well as major-level corrupted PST files.
Steps to Repair PST File Without Outlook
- Launch the SysKare PST Converter Tool and select PST files.
- The tool will provide two different options to add PST file (select file and select folders)
- Hit the Next button and select the saving option as per your needs.
- Now, select the desired or entire data items you want to recover and click Export to repair PST file without Outlook.
- You can split PST or create separate PST per user.
- Check the box next to Maintain Folder Hierarchy and any other desired options before clicking the Export button.
- The PST export process will start after this, and let it be completed.
- Eventually, the recovered PST file can be accessed simply from Microsoft Outlook without getting any error prompts.
Conclusion Lines
Corruption in PST is a very common issue encountered by most Outlook users. All the users who face this condition, search for a single question, i.e., how to repair PST file without Outlook. Considering this query, we have discussed a professional technique to recover data from a corrupted PST and now users can perform this task even if they do not have much technical savvy.
