HELP!! Corrupt Outlook PST File

[damonpip]

Well I just reformatted, and had backed up my PST files to a CD, but when I try to open them with Outlook XP oncec I reinstalled, it claimed that they were not personal folder files. I thought they must be corrupt, so I ran scanpst on them, and sure enough, they had some errors. Outlook managed to open them, but there was no mail in the files. When I compacted the pst file with outlook, it almost disappeared, it was 13megs before, then changed to 30kb. I guess the database structure in the file was somehow damaged and no longer referenced the mail items. That's just my thought and I'm probably totally wrong. ANY ideas on how to fix this?? I'd love to get all that mail back!!

 

[Lord Evermore]

Did you try copying it from the CD again just to be sure?

 

[damonpip]

Yea, I've tried that, It's corrupted on the CD I guess, so I'm hoping to find a way to repair the files.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Probably no way at all. There's "damage" which leaves the data there, and then there's "corruption" so you've basically got a file full of random data.

 

[techwanabe]

Have you tried INBOX REPAIR TOOL? That is a utility made for repairing corrupt PST files - I've used it successfully at my office on a number of occasions before we switched to Exchange Server.

 

[Commish]

Did you change it from read only after you copied it back to your hard drive?

 

[TonyRic]

Try importing the data from the old .pst into outlook instead of just copying it. you may have better luck. I had to do this for my wife one day (and we all know how long those days can be). I wish she would just let me move her to Linux already.

 

[Genx87]

Use the inbox repair tool. I have fixed .pst files what were really screwed up. >2GB. At that point outlook actually locks the file and it is usually hosed.

Your .pst is uber small and should be easily repairable.

 

[mikecel79]

Originally posted by: Commish
Did you change it from read only after you copied it back to your hard drive?

I can almost bet this is your problem! PST files must not be set to Read Only. Outlook will report it as corrupt if it can't write to the file.

FYI 2GB is the limit for PST files. At that point you can no longer write information to it but you file won't become corrupt.

 

[Genx87]

Yes I know the file limit is 2GB but

A. If the file ever survives that long to get to 2GB. 90% of the time it does it is hosed and we need to run the repair utility.
B. .pst is a fragile animal. Anything over 1GB and the likelyness of corruption literally goes through the roof.

 

[mikecel79]

I won't argue that PSTs can be fragile. I've seen many of them go corrupted on users. I thought you were saying as soon as you hit 2GB the file is corrupted.

 

[Commish]

Just bumping to see if you got this resolved, out of curiosity.