The integrity of Outlook data file (.pst) is crucial for the seamless performance of this globally-popular email client. Since these files (.pst) store business-centric email messages, attachments, contacts, etc., any damage to them not only impact performance but also pose a grave threat to the valuable data. Therefore, ensuring the health of Personal Storage Table (PST) files must be the priority for every Outlook user.
But sometimes these vital data files got corrupted. These files (.pst) got damaged owing to certain virus or malware attack, while in certain cases the corruption culprits range from incompatible add-ins, system crashes and sudden Outlook termination to a large file (.pst) size. Once these .pst data files get corrupted, the first priority of the user is to get them fixed. Microsoft has provided a built-in utility Scanpst.exe to fix such a corrupt file. This integrated functionality runs multiple scans to investigate inconsistencies in the file header and structure. It then diagnoses and repairs them. The time duration of this procedure depends on the .pst file size. A big file will take longer time. Ever wonder what to do if you can’t find Scanpst exe. Well in such a case, we need some professional Outlook PST repair tool. It is a fast and reliable alternative PST File Taking Too Long to Repair? Try This Method to avoid long waiting times while recovering content in the damaged file.
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Why Does ScanPST Take Longer to Repair?
ScanPST.exe is the best solution for repairing a small file (upto 2 GB) with minor corruption issue. But if the file size is large and the corruption falls in the complex or severe category, then this built-in utility may fail to resolve the issue. Some common scenarios that exceed ScanPST’s ability to fix corruption issues are discussed below:
Multiple Stage Process: Fixing issues using ScanPST is a multi-step process. The utility first runs multiple scans to analyze file header and structure inconsistencies, which takes time. In case the file is severely corrupted, the utility may crash or take long time in rebuilding the missing data.
Manual Process: It is also a manual task that requires a bit of technical knowledge and expertise. Any miscalculation not only means repetition of the entire process but also pose a threat to the valuable data stored in the .pst file.
A Large Outlook Data File (.pst): Repairing a large .pst file means consuming substantial time and effort. It may be possible that during the procedure Scanpst may miss a few email messages, attachments or other mailbox content.
Complex Corruption Level: When the .pst file falls in the category of excessively-damaged level, then the ScanPST may take longer time or even crash without fixing the issue.
Hardware or System Capabilities: It is worth mentioning that repair speed largely depends on the device hardware capabilities. If the user is working on a system with limited RAM or if the device has a slow processor, it will take longer time to repair a damaged .pst file. It is because ScanPST needs computational power to scan, rebuild the file structure.
Common Methods for Repairing PST Files
Some of the proven methods to fix Outlook data files (.pst) are discussed below:
Restore from a Backup: The steps listed below can be used to restore the.pst file if the user has made a backup:
Step 1: Discovering the PST Backup File:
- Browse the File Explorer.
- Go to the folder location where the .pst backup file is saved.
Step 2: Launch Microsoft Outlook & Access Import Feature:
- After opening the application, go to “File.”
- Browse “Open & Export.”
- Then press the “Import/Export” tab
Step 3: Import the Backup PST File:
- Choose Import from a different program or file. Then click on the “Next” tab.
- After this choose Outlook Data File (.pst) from the selection. Press Next.
- Now choose the file folder you require to export and then click Next. You can include the subfolders as well.
- Provide the location to save the file. Tick the ‘Replace duplicates with items exported’ option to avoid duplicate content.
- End the process by pressing the ‘Finish’ tab.
PST Repair Using ScanPST.exe: The user can repair a damaged .pst file using built-in ScanPST.exe by following below steps:
Step 1: Shutdown the Outlook and discover the ScanPST on the below locations:
| Version | Location |
| Office 365\2019\2016: | –For the users of 64-bit Outlook C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16
–For users with 64-bit Outlook C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 –For 32-bit Outlook version users C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16 –For users of 32-bit Windows C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16 |
| Office 2013: | –For users of 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\office15
–For users of 32-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\office15 |
Step 2: After locating ScanPST, double click on it to start the procedure.
Step 3: Now choose the PST file you need to scan/ repair.
Step 4: Click on the selected data file. Press Open to proceed.
Step 5: The Window now starts featuring the targeted data file (.pst). Hit on the ‘Start’ tab to initiate the scan.
Step 6: Scan time depends primarily on the size of the targeted file. In nutshell, a large data file will take longer time. Once the scan procedure is finished, a progress report will be displayed.
Step 7: Evaluate the scan findings and check icon to create a pre-repair backup.
Step 8: After taking the backup, press the ‘Repair’ tab to initiate the procedure.
Step 9: Click ‘OK’ tab once the procedure is over.
Step 10: Restart Outlook to investigate if the error is fixed.
Stuck with Slow PST Repairs? Try This Method:
A quick, easy, and relatively smart way to repair a damaged .pst file is with professional PST recovery software. Powered with a friendly GUI, these recovery tools can be used even by a person with limited technical knowledge. Stellar Repair for Outlook is reliable software for PST recovery. The USP of this software is its quick repair speed. It is based on advanced algorithms to recover even oversized or severely corrupted Outlook data files (.pst). This tool is compatible with every Outlook version (like 2021, 2019, etc). Furthermore, it also has advanced filter options for including/ excluding email messages.
How to Use Stellar Repair for Outlook?
- Download the software.
- Double click on its icon to “Run.”
- Choose the targeted PST file.
- Press the ‘Repair’ tab.
- The window will feature a preview of emails and other mailbox data.
- Browse the ‘Home’ menu and ‘Save Repaired File’ icon.
- Select the export file format (PST, PDF, EML, MSG, etc) from the ‘Save Options’ dialog box.
Conclusion:
ScanPST is a built-in utility to fix corruption issues in the Outlook data file (.pst). But it is best for addressing minor corruption issues in a small file (up to 2 GB). It has some limitations. First and foremost, it consumes considerable productive hours in running multiple scans of file headers and structure. Secondly, it may fail to address complex corruption scenarios like in the case of a virus attack. Thirdly, it needs a bit of technical knowledge. Any miscalculation means not only repetition of the entire process but also a threat to the valuable data. To avoid this scenario, we can use any professional PST repair tool. Such tools offer fast and quick solutions. Stellar Repair for Outlook is a prominent tool that is recommended by Microsoft MVPs. It is based on advanced algorithms to repair files infected with severe or complex corruption issues. If you’re stuck with slow PST repairs, try this method to fix your damaged .pst files faster.