Fixing/Ignoring CRC error

[dpopiz]

Ok I have an outlook .pst file that is corrupted.

But unfortunately I cannot even back it up before I try to fix it because whenever I try to copy it, it gets part way done and then says there is a CRC error so it cannot copy.


Is there a way I can fix the CRC error (even if it means losing that part of the file), or is there a way to copy it and ignore the fact that it has a CRC error?


This is a very important file -- all my email for the company, so retrieving any part of it would be very helpful.


>> I don't understand why it shouldn't be possible to just make a copy of the file and at least put 0's in place of the bad sector areas or something -- at least then I could back up THE REST of the whole 2GB file

 

[Fardringle]

It sounds like part of your PST file is sitting on a bad sector (or sectors) on the hard drive and the copy is failing when it gets to those sectors. You might be able to recover the data from those sectors by running SCANDISK (Error-Checking on the Tools tab of the drive Properties window) and check the box to "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors". This isn't a guarantee that the file itself will still be usable, but at least you should be able to make a backup copy after that so you can run SCANPST.EXE on the file to try and repair it.

 

[dpopiz]

well when I run scandisk with either or both checkboxes it grinds for a while and then says it is unable to complete.

If I run scandisk with no boxes checked it grinds for a while then says COMPLETED

 

[RebateMonger]

The easiest thing would be to restore the file from your most recent backup. But, something tells me that you have no backups.

Slipstick.com - Repairing a damaged PST file.

Recent Sue Mosher (Outlook MVP) advice:
"Try alternating Scanpst.exe with Scandisk.exe or another disk repair utility 3-4 times, if needed. That's been known to work wonders on a damaged .pst file. "

If that data is REALLY important, the safest thing to do would be to get that drive to an expert at data recovery. At this time, it would be a SIMPLE repair for them. But if you mess with the file or the drive without knowing what you are doing, you can turn that simple repair into a MUCH costlier repair.

 

[dpopiz]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
The easiest thing would be to restore the file from your most recent backup. But, something tells me that you have no backups.

Slipstick.com - Repairing a damaged PST file.

Recent Sue Mosher (Outlook MVP) advice:
"Try alternating Scanpst.exe with Scandisk.exe or another disk repair utility 3-4 times, if needed. That's been known to work wonders on a damaged .pst file. "

If that data is REALLY important, the safest thing to do would be to get that drive to an expert at data recovery. At this time, it would be a SIMPLE repair for them. But if you mess with the file or the drive without knowing what you are doing, you can turn that simple repair into a MUCH costlier repair.

how would running scanpst or scandisk create a bigger problem for data recovery services?

 

[dpopiz]

I don't understand why it shouldn't be possible to just make a copy of the file and at least put 0's in place of the bad sector areas or something -- at least then I could back up THE REST of the whole 2GB file

 

[killerpcs]

It sounds like you do have a drive problem but just wanted to ask, was it a crc error you were getting in outlook? Outlook tends to choke on PST files once they get to the 1.8gig mark, most versions ive run into will lock up with PST files any bigger than that.
Aside from that, your best bet would be to try a data recovery program to get a copy of the data (minus the bad sectors), which you can then run Scanpst on. I know there are free data recovery utils out there, maybe a search would turn up some options. I have been using a program called stellar data recovery to deal with PST files that corrupt due to failing drives.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: dpopiz
How would running scanpst or scandisk create a bigger problem for data recovery services?

I'm not so much worried about the use of Scandisk or ScanPST as other, more agressive, data recovery programs.

Normally, you'd make a backup a the .PST file and do the repair on the backup. Or clone the entire hard drive and do the repair on the clone. But if you can't copy the file or clone the drive, you'll be working on the original file.

I just re-read your original post. You said "2 GB .pst file". What version of Outlook are you using? You know that there's a 2GB limit to PST files in Outlook versions 97-2002, right? They become unusable at that point.

 

[dpopiz]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: dpopiz
How would running scanpst or scandisk create a bigger problem for data recovery services?

I'm not so much worried about the use of Scandisk or ScanPST as other, more agressive, data recovery programs.

I just re-read your original post. You said "2 GB .pst file". What version of Outlook are you using? You know that there's a 2GB limit to PST files in Outlook versions 97-2002, right? They become unusable at that point.

yteah I know about the 2GB limit and I've tried scanpst and such, but there is definitely a CRC error too -- I cannot copy the file by any means

 

[RebateMonger]

Attempt a file copy of the .PST file, and then look in your System Event Log and see what's there. (I'm assuming you're using Windows XP). You're looking for red "Error" messages.

How-to-Outlook article on "CRC errors on pst-file". Probably not that useful, but on-topic.

 

[dpopiz]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
Attempt a file copy of the .PST file, and then look in your System Event Log and see what's there. (I'm assuming you're using Windows XP). You're looking for red "Error" messages.

thanks; what should I expect to find
btw when the copy operation fails it specifically says that there was a CRC error