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How to Repair PST File

This PST repair guide works well on office 2003 pst repair issues, office 2007 pst repair issues and office 2010 pst repair issues.  It does not matter if you are using Windows 7, Vista or XP.  While the file paths may be a little different.  The PST files are all basically the same.

Free PST Repair Method

Take a few minutes to try these free pst file repair tricks.  It should only take 20 to 30 minutes of your time.  If the below free methods do not work for you then your next option is to purchase a PST repair program. The PST Repair program we recommend should you use is this Outlook PST Repair Software. When other programs and methods fail the above software in the link works.

Step 1. Before we can start we need to unhide system files. This is needed so you can browse down to the PST file you want to repair and so you can make a copy of the file as well.

Show hidden files in Windows Vista and Windows 7

  • Click Start, then select the control pannel.
  • Click Appearance and Personalization.
  • Click Folder Options.
  • Click the View tab.
  • Under Advanced Settings, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.

Remeber to turn this feature off when you are done. Optional but we recommend turning it off.

Show hidden files in Windows XP

  • Start Windows Explorer. ” Take note this is Windows Explorer and not Internet Explorer. Just Open up the My Computer Icon.
  • On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
  • Click the View tab.
  • Under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders, and then click OK.

Remeber to turn this feature off when you are done!

Step 2. Locate the Outlook PST file.

XP

Please note the Outlook needs to be closed for this to work.

  • Click Start, and then click Run.
  • Type control in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
  • If you see the Pick a category view, click User Accounts.
  • Double-click Mail.
  • Click Data Files.
  • Click Personal Folders, and then click Settings.
  • Note the text in the Filename box.
  • Click OK, and then click Close two times

For Vista and Windows 7

Please note the Outlook needs to be closed for this to work.

Find the Outlook .pst file

  1. Click Start, type control in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
  2. If you see Control Panel Home view ( this is on the to, far left section ), click User Accounts and Family Safety.If you do not see Control Panel Home view, go to step 2c.
  1. Click Mail.
  2. Click Data Files.
  3. Click Personal Folders, and then click Settings.Note If there are no Personal Folders services in your profile and if you can store information such as messages, contacts, or appointments in Outlook, your information is most likely being stored in a mailbox on an Exchange Server. If this is true, information is typically backed up on the server. Contact the Exchange Server administrator for more information.
  4. Note the text in the Filename box.Note You may have to click in the Filename box and then use the right-arrow key to view all the text.
  5. Click OK, and then click Close two times.

Step 3: Find the Inbox Repair Tool

  1. Use one of the following methods, as appropriate, for the version of Outlook that you are running.Note If you are unsure which version of Outlook that you use, open Outlook, click the Help menu, and then click About Microsoft Outlook to see the version.
    • Microsoft Outlook 2002Click Start

Collapse this imageExpand this image,type %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\System\Mapi\1033\ in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

    • Microsoft Office Outlook 2003Click Start

Collapse this imageExpand this image, type %ProgramFiles%\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033\ in theStart Search box, and then press ENTER.

    • Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 / Outlook 2010Click Start

Collapse this imageExpand this image, type %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office12\ in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.

  1. Find and then double-click SCANPST.EXE to start the Inbox Repair Tool.

If you can not seem to find the Scanpst.exe on your computer you can download it from here.

Step 4: Use the Inbox Repair Tool

Please note you should make a backup copy of the PST file before you attempt a repair. This is to ensure you do not do any more damage to the file then whats already been done. To make a backup simply right click on the pst file and click copy. Paste the file to a known file location like your documents.

  1. In the Enter the name of the file you want to scan box, type the path and file name of the Outlook .pst file that you found in step 2.
  1. Click Start.

After the Inbox Repair Tool operation is complete, click OK.

Step 5. Open Outlook

You should now be able to open Outlook and see if the Scanpst.exe program was able to repair your Outlook PST file. If it was unable to make the repair, this means your PST file is very damaged and it’s not a header issue whithin the Outlook PST file. You will need to use a more advanced tool to repair the PST file. I personally recommend you use this Outlook PST Reapir Software Program. It works very well to repair PST files when other methods like the above fail.

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