The process for Outlook data recovery will depend on the data loss scenario. Some of the most common scenarios:

• Outlook is unable to open the file or a set of folders, usually due to file corruption.
• The PST/OST file is accidentally deleted.
• Files are targeted by ransomware or other malware.
• The user’s hard drive, solid-state drive (SSD), or other data storage device fails. 

If you accidentally delete your Outlook file, your storage media fails, or you’re victimized by malware, we strongly recommend working with a professional data recovery provider. Datarecovery.com provides risk-free evaluations and a no data, no charge guarantee: If your PST/OST files aren’t recoverable, there’s no charge for the attempt.

However, if your Outlook data file is corrupt, you may be able to restore the data with the free SCANPST.EXE Inbox Repair tool. Here’s what to know before starting.

Back up your existing PST/OST file before attempting repair.

The process for backing up (or exporting) a PST/OST varies depending on your version of Outlook. Read Microsoft’s guide for backing up Outlook data.

However, professional data recovery providers will go further: Depending on the source of the data corruption, running any operation could exacerbate data loss. The safest course of action is to create a complete clone of the affected device. 

You should not attempt to back up your data within Outlook if you notice any of the signs of a physical issue with your storage device:

• You hear clicking sounds, whirring sounds, or other unusual noises.
• Your computer operates slowly or has trouble opening certain applications.
• The computer occasionally fails when booting the operating system.
• Widespread data corruption (the Outlook data file isn’t the only corrupt file on your system). 

Remember, if the data is essential, the best practice is to work with professionals. If you could recreate your Outlook data — but you’d like to avoid the extra work — you can proceed with the Inbox Repair tool.

Related: Can Data Recovery Software Fix a Corrupted Hard Drive?

The Inbox Repair tool is useful, but not perfect.

To launch the tool, you’ll need to exit Outlook and locate the SCANPST.EXE file. The location varies depending on your version of Outlook:

• Outlook 2019: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
• Outlook 2016: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16
• Outlook 2013: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15
• Outlook 2010: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14
• Outlook 2007: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12

After launching the tool, you’ll select the PST you want to scan. Select Start to begin the scan, then Repair to attempt to repair the damaged file.

You may need to run SCANPST.EXE several times — and the process isn’t perfect. When you restart Outlook, you may see a Lost and Found folder, which contains all of the files that the Inbox Repair tool recovered but was unable to organize. 

For more guidance, see Microsoft’s guide to using the Inbox Repair tool.

Remember, you typically have one chance to recover your data.

We’re providing information about the Inbox Repair tool for a simple reason: In some situations, it works quite well. 

However, any software data recovery tool can cause additional corruption under certain circumstances.

We recommend running SCANPST.EXE on a clone of the original hard drive/SSD; while this may seem like overkill, it significantly limits the chances of permanent data loss. If your recovery attempt fails, you’ll still have the original copy of the data — and you can work with data recovery professionals to restore your inbox.

If you’re trying to restore a PST/OST, we’re here to help. Call 1-800-237-4200 to speak with an expert or submit a case online.

The post Data Recovery for Outlook PST and OST Files: Quick Tips appeared first on Datarecovery.com.

Email communication drives the daily operations of most modern businesses, and lost emails can present a significant roadblock in some situations. Our laboratories have developed numerous techniques for fast, dependable email recovery, and because we have a comprehensive understanding of the unique attributes of different email systems, we can quickly return a functional copy of the files created by various email clients while protecting our customers’ security.

Some of the most common email clients include:

• Outlook
• Outlook Express
• Mozilla Thunderbird
• IBM Lotus Notes
• Eudora

There are dozens of other popular clients in use, and we have file tools available for all email formats.

Outlook Data Recovery and File Size Limits

Currently, Microsoft Outlook is by far the most popular email client in use, and we are particularly well-outfitted to recover data from Outlook PSTs and OSTs. These are the file formats that Outlook uses to store email data; OST files are used when Outlook works in conjunction with a Microsoft Exchange server, while PST files are primarily found on independent machines.

Larger email archives can become fragmented, and because Outlook originally imposed a strict size limit on email archives (which increased from 2GB to 50GB in Outlook 2010 and 2013), extremely large files can become corrupt or inaccessible. A common error message states that users need to permanently delete items in order to reduce the amount of data in the PST files, but older versions of Outlook did not generate this error message – users would suddenly find their data missing or inaccessible without any prior warning.

To recover data from damaged email archives, Datarecovery.com engineers can manually reduce file sizes, fix corruption, and treat physical media issues in a Class 5 clean room. We recover the vast majority of email archives with simple file utilities, and in many cases, email data recovery can be performed in a matter of hours. Each of our laboratories is staffed with experienced email recovery experts, and we can help you save a tremendous amount of time by utilizing our exclusive technology. For a free quote, call us today at 1.800.237.4200.

The post Email Data Recovery appeared first on Datarecovery.com.