How to Repair OST file - Step By Step Guide

OST (Offline Storage Table) is a file type that is created by Microsoft Outlook when users use Outlook with an email account, which set up to use the Exchange server. Sometimes, it becomes necessary for the users to repair OST file of Outlook for many reasons. Before going to the reasons, let us discuss a little bit about the .ost. OST file is a local copy of the user’s mailbox stored on their system. Outlook OST files allow users to access email, calendar, contacts, and other items in Outlook even when users are not connected to the internet.

However, while users work offline, those changes are stored in the OST file on their computer. Then, when users go back online, Outlook will automatically sync the changes with the Exchange server so that their mailbox is up to date. Also, OST files allow users to work with their Outlook data even when users don't have an internet connection. In the following paragraph, we are going to share some common reasons behind the corruption in the Outlook OST file.

Reasons why an OST file gets corrupted

There are multiple factors that may affect the Outlook OST file, and users need to repair OST file. Some of the common factors we have mentioned below.

• If users accidentally delete any file or folder from the Exchange profile, then there are chances of corruption in the OST file.

• Virus attack is the most common reason behind the corruption in the Outlook OST file. It affects the user’s system data in various ways, adding junk data to the OST file data, deleting crucial data, etc.

• Sometimes users shut down the Outlook email client in an improper way which leads the data to the chances of corruption. And then, users wish to perform an OST recovery process to overcome damaged OST file.

• In such cases, users are continuously facing the network failure issue; this could be one of the reasons why the OST file gets inaccessible or corrupted.

• If the user’s system has an oversized PST file, there is always a high risk that it can also affect the OST file data.

Other than these reasons, it can be more things that may affect the OST file data, which can be particular for each user.

Ways to recover corrupted Outlook OST file

This recovery process can be performed with the help of a manual method or a professional OST Repair Tool. There are several manual methods that you can use to overcome the OST file corruption issue. If you choose the professional tool to perform this task, it will recover corrupted OST file and save OST file into PST file format. In this write-up, we will focus on both manual and professional methods and elaborate their procedures.

Manual ways to fix the corrupt Outlook OST file data

Here in the manual methods, we will discuss on the two native methods that will work to repair OST file of Outlook. So, let us start this by elaborating on the steps for the first method to do the same.

Method 1: Repair Outlook OST file using ScanOST.exe

First, you must need to find the location of the ScanOST.exe in your system.

• For Outlook 2007 : C:Program Files> Microsoft Office> Office 12

• For Outlook 2003 : C:Program Files> Common Files> System> MSMAPI> scanost.exe

• In Outlook 2002/XP : C:Program Files> Common Files> System> MAPI> scanost.exe

• For Outlook 2000 : C:Program Files> Common Files> System> MAPINT> scanost.exe

Thereafter, follow the steps that we have below mentioned and repair OST file with the help of ScanOST.exe.

Step1: Right-click on the ScanOST.exe and run it as an administrator.

Step2: Select the profile which contains the corrupt OST file.

Step3: Choose the folders that you want to scan.

Step4: Here, you can also choose all the folders to scan.

Step5: Then tick the Repair errors checkbox to fix the corruption.

Step6: Tap the Begin Scan option to start the scanning process.

Step7: After completing the process, it will show a message “OST repaired successfully”.

Step8: Press the Ok button to end the scanning process.

Method 2: Fix OST file corruption and renew the OST file

With the below steps, users can repair OST file, so follow all the steps properly to complete your task.

Step1: First, close your Outlook program and go to the Control panel.

Step2: Move to the Search option and search for the Mail.

Step3: After that, double-tap on the Mail icon.

Step4: Now, click on the E-mail accounts option and choose the Exchange Server account.

Step5: Later on, tap the Change button.

Step6: Check the Use Cached Exchange Mode option.

Step7: Afterwards, tap the More settings button.

Step8: Tap the Offline Folder File settings option.

Step9: Tick the Use Cached Exchange Mode checkbox from the Cached Exchange Mode settings option.

Step10: Press the Ok button and then Next.

Step11: Click Finish, and at last, hit Close.

By following these manual ways, users can perform the OST Recovery process to fix the damaged OST file. These methods are free of cost and available to use; users only need to have the installed Outlook application in their system to follow these solutions. However, they have some limitations, which is why most users do not want to work with manual methods. The manual methods take a longer time to complete this recovery process. Users must need proper technical knowledge to repair OST file using this method. Moreover, these methods only work if the OST has minor corruption.

So, to complete this task without facing any limitations, users can go with a professional third-party tool. But we all know the task of finding a perfect tool is a hectic task for the users. We have solved this problem by providing the Shoviv OST Repair Tool in the following paragraph. Get the entire details on this software’s features and work by reading the next section carefully.

Shoviv professional way of repairing Outlook OST file

Users who want to complete this process can opt for the Shoviv Exchange OST Recovery Tool. This software comes in handy for all users and also offers lots of features so that users complete this task easily. The structure of the folder and metadata of emails will not harm even after completing the repair process. Its procedure is very easy, and anyone can understand it without any difficulty. This tool allows users to take a preview of added OST file before initiating the recovery process.

It offers a simple user interface, which enables users to repair OST file effortlessly. This software will not harm any of the data while running the process. To know more about the features of this software, users can download its free trial version. Let us understand how this software works to perform this task.

Now, we will share the step-by-step process to work with the Shoviv professional third-party tool to perform this task.

Step1: Run the Shoviv OST Recovery Tool in your system.

Step2: Click on the Add button and check the Advanced Scan option after selecting the OST file.

Step3: After that, tap the Ok button.

Step4: Navigate to the ribbon bar and choose OST to PST option.

Step5: Check the subfolders per your need and press the Next button.

Step6: Select the option to export the OST file into an existing or new PST and click Next.

Step7: Use the filter option if you want to include or exclude items. Then, tap Next.

Step8: Now, the process to repair OST file will begin.

Step9: Click Ok after the notification of process completion pops up.

Step10: Hit the Save button to save the report and click Finish.

Wrapping Up

This write-up has elaborated on the ways to perform the recovery process of the Outlook OST file. In this conclusion, we suggest users repair OST file using the Shoviv professional third-party tool. It is an easy and fast way to perform this recovery process.