At a higher level, the more visible changes that you see involve folders and messages. If ScanPST determines that a specific block of the structure or table is unreadable or corrupted, ScanPST removes it. If that block was part of a specific item in Outlook, the item will be removed when it is validated. It is located in the folder of your original Personal Folders (.pst) FixTechGuide mailbox repair steps file. For instructions about how to unhide files and folders, see your operating system documentation.

Common Causes That Led To PST File Corruption

• We are going to share a table below with the default location of this utility for different Outlook versions, like Outlook 2010, 2013, or 2019.
• Besides that, its free edition can process up to 50 items from each folder, making it easy for users to understand tool’s working.
• The Inbox Repair Tool can’t always recover a heavily corrupted .pst file.
• It also has no restrictions on adding oversized PST files to resolve corruption.
• The methods are secure and will recover your PST file easily.
• You can also move the PST file to a different folder or drive.
• To start the Inbox Repair tool manually, locate one of the folders by using Microsoft Windows Explorer, and then double-click the Scanpst.exe file.
• Problems like system crashes, sudden shutdowns, or profile issues can corrupt the OST file, causing Outlook to display sync errors or lose access to your data.

Before implementing this method to fix Outlook PST files, read its limitations for more insight. However, deleting the PST file isn’t ideal as you may lose some mailbox items. Here are some methods you can follow to rebuild the Outlook PST file. online Outlook email repair utility If you can't start the Inbox Repair tool automatically or manually, you may try to repair your Office application. Use the Browse button to  choose the Outlook Data File (.pst) you need to scan — find the file based on the locations in step 2 above.

Automatically start the Inbox Repair tool

In a situation like that, you might need to try another solution, like a more powerful third-party tool. Simran Bhatia is a technical content writer engaged in writing clear, concise, and SEO-optimized content. With a background in computer science and a passion for writing, I thrive to deliver complex technical content in simple layman terms. He is an expert Office 365 Sync Errors Fix Tech Explainer, IoT enthusiast, and a passionate nerd with over 7 years of experience in technical writing. He writes about Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft 365, Email Migration, Linux, Windows, Mac, DIY Tech, and Smart Home. Ravi spends most of his weekends working with IoT (DIY Smart Home) devices and playing Overwatch.

Follow the step-by-step guide to fix the Corrupt PST file:

Also, this specific kind of situation is rare, and it will always be entered in the ScanPST log file. Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.

What to do when you can’t repair the .pst file with SCANPST.EXE

The Inbox Repair Tool can’t always recover a heavily corrupted .pst file. If you’re tried using it with no luck, the best fix might be a third-party tool. The Inbox Repair tool is built to diagnose and repair many potential errors with Outlook data files, but it isn’t always the best solution. For example, it can’t help if your file was permanently deleted or corrupted beyond its repair abilities. After running SCANPST.EXE, you might find a folder called Recovered Personal Folders in your files that contains your default Outlook folders or a Lost and Found folder. The folders might just be empty and redundant, or they might contain recovered data that Outlook couldn’t place in its original locations.







Additionally, this tool’s demo version can be accessed freely to get deeper clarity on its features and functionality. Besides that, its free edition can process up to 50 items from each folder, making it easy for users to understand tool’s working. Moreover, this tool can quickly recover email messages, calendars, tasks and other data from corrupted PST files. It also offers a filter option; users can filter items using different criteria when they want to have only the desired items to process. So, learn how to fix corrupted Outlook data files (PST) without the ScanPST.exe tool. This post explains how to repair Outlook .pst files using Microsoft’s Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE), as well as other solutions you can try.