We all use MS Outlook to carry out both internal and external corporate communications. All the Outlook data is stored in a proprietary file called PST (Personal Storage Table) file. However, at times Outlook is used in cached mode, also known as offline mode, at places where the network is either not very reliable or limited. You can work in the offline mode as you would work normally while the changes are reflected when the connection is made with the Exchange Server. All the data in the offline mode is saved in an OST (Offline Storage Table) file, which can get corrupt because of various reasons that are discussed later in the article. To recover OST file, the in-built tools can be used to do the needful. However, if you are unable to do so then you should use a third-party OST to PST converter that converts OST to PST file after repairing the OST file.
There are few cases when the Outlook OST gets corrupt or becomes orphan. In such cases, OST file needs to be recovered as the unsaved data can be lost. These cases are:
The OST file is corrupt or damaged. There are some unsent emails that you want to recover.
There is some data that exists only in the local OST (offline storage table) file as it has not been synchronized with the Exchange Server.
The Exchange Server is unavailable for some reasons. Because of this, the OST file is unable to get synchronized. Some of these reasons are:
The user mailbox is shifted or deleted from its original location.
The Exchange Server system is shut down for sometime.
The name of the Exchange server or the user mailbox is changed.
Resolution:
To overcome such situations, you should use the in-built OST Integrity Checker Tool (Scanost.exe) to repair and rebuild the OST file. This tool checks and repairs each component in the OST file with its copy in the Exchange Server
If the issue is not resolved even after using the OST Integrity Checker Tool, then you should use a third-party OST recovery tool to recover the OST file. These read-only tools, then, convert OST to PST file without making any changes in the original OST file.
The best OST recovery tool that repairs corrupt OST files from all instances of logical corruption and converts it to PST file is Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Exchange Desktop. Recovering OST created for MS Outlook 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, and 2000, this OST to PST converter restores emails, attachments, tasks, journals, contacts, calendar entries, etc. With the ability to preserve the formatting of the HTML and RTF messages, this convert OST to PST utility is compatible with Windows 7, Vista, Server 2003, XP, and 2000.
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