Fix OST Files in Outlook with SCANPST.EXE

Depending on how you have your Outlook setup you might have an OST. OST files or offline folder files, are typically used when you chose to have Outlook store copies of your email messages, calendar and other items locally for you. From time to time these OST files tend to get corrupt. Here is a little tutorial on how to fix OST files with either SCANPST.exe, Outlook 2010 or SCANOST.exe for Outlook 2007.

How to Fix OST File

First exit out of Outlook, having it open will cause problems. Then go to this path drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12, this is for Office 2007. If you are using Office 2010 then you will need to go to the Office14 folder instead. For Office 2007 locate the SCANOST.exe file and click on it. For Office 2010 users, locate the SCANPST.EXE file and click on it.

The Microsoft Outlook Inbox Repair Tool will open.

Here you will need to select your OST file. By default it should pick it up, but sometimes you need to navigate to it. Click on Browse and navigate. If you are not sure where your OST file is, just enter this into the address bar  %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook and hit enter then select your OST file.

Then click on Start.

It takes some time to run through so be patience.

If it finds issues with it will attempt to repair it. Make sure to have the check box check for the backup. Don’t want to lose all your data.

It takes a couple more minutes for it to finish then you will get a nice little prompt.

Conclusion

This tool is a quick an easy tool to fix common issues with an OST file. It also can be used to fix PST files as well. Be careful this sometimes fails and cannot fix them though. If you are still using Outlook 2003 you can check out this Microsoft article about fixing and checking your OST file.

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