How does the Outlook PST Repair Tool handle heavily corrupted files?

When it comes to repairing an extremely damaged Outlook PST file there can be several problems and it is quite challenging if ordinary tools do not work properly. It is very important to have a good understanding of how to deal with these situations as they pertain to permissions and access to emails and other pertinent data. This blog post aims at explaining the approaches that can be used to repair PST file and the primary value to rely on specific tools rather than the native solutions.

Understanding PST File Corruption

PST (Personal Storage Table) files are used by Microsoft Outlook to store emails, contacts, calendar events, and other data. In the process of using computers and other technologies, these files can become damaged mainly because of the following reasons: Program crashes and shutdowns, viruses, large file sizes, and hard disk failure. Some of the symptoms, which users may face when there is corruption include Outlook freezing, inability to open emails or any other message stating some issue with the PST file.

Using Built-in Tools: SCANPST

The first level of protecting PST from corruption is the default program which is known as Inbox Repair Tool or SCANPST. exe. Instead of focusing on major issues of corruption, this tool is meant to tackle minor problems like the structure of the file. To use SCANPST, users must:

• -Close Outlook: While following these steps make sure that Outlook is closed.
• -Locate SCANPST: The location of placing the tool in the general case depends on the Outlook version installed – it can be located in the Office installation directory.
• -Select the PST File: Open the tool so that you can go on browsing for the corrupted PST file which you want to get repaired.
• -Run the Scan: Start scanning in order to check for mistakes.
• -Repair: If any error is detected, then it will suggest to repair the file under process and copy files in the background.

Still, SCANPST is useful if the problems are not very severe, yet it has numerous disadvantages. It mostly cannot restore very damaged files or files which are larger than 2GB or encrypted files. Such occurrences may force users to lose access to their data despite storing it with the cloud service provider.

Advanced Solutions for Severe Corruption

However, if SCANPST cannot fix the problems associated with your PST files, then third-party software can be crucial. These tools are beyond built-in utilities since they are formulated to allow a program to work on severe corruption cases beyond the abilities of inbuilt utilities. For instance, Shoviv Outlook PST Repair Tool is quite advanced in repairing several PST files compared to the Wizard.

Features of Advanced Repair Tools

• Deep Scanning: They use complex methods of searching for and effectively fixing the most damaged PST files.
• Recovery of All Items: While programs like SCANPST promise to reduce the count of corrupted items during the repairing process, advanced tools seek to retrieve all the emails, contacts and calendar events without any loss.
• Support for Large Files: Large PST files can go up to over 50 GB, and since most of the advanced tools are composed and designed for the professional, they can readily support the large volume of emails.
• Multiple Export Options: In most cases, repaired data can be exported in different formats such as PST, EML, MSG and even directly to Office 365 so that the users can have the feel of how they want their data to be in the mailbox.
• User-Friendly Interface: Modern and complex PST repair utilities are created with a focus on their user friendliness ensuring that even people with little IT skills will be able to operate them.

Best Practices for Preventing PST Corruption

To minimize the risk of PST corruption, users should adopt several best practices:

• Regular Backups: From time to time, backup PST files in case they are corrupted to be safe.
• Limit File Size: It is very important to ensure that PST files are not too large and they fall within the size limit that is recommended by Microsoft to prevent performance problems.
• Use Antivirus Software: To guard against the type of malware that can compromise the PST files, one needs to install the relevant reputable antivirus software.
• Close Outlook Properly: Shutting down Outlook improperly can contribute a lot to the corruption of the application, and one should always close it properly.

Conclusion

Attempting to repair PST file that have become extremely corrupt means that some strategic decision has to be taken. However, minor problems can be solved using SCANPST. However, users suffering from severe corruption should opt for the professional Shoviv Outlook PST Repair Tool. Such niche programs not only restore information proficiently but also contain various tools that let users work with data more conveniently. When PST files are maintained properly, then one can easily minimize the chances of its corruption in the upcoming times.