The OST (Offline Storage Table) is basically an offline Outlook Data File used by your Microsoft Exchange Server. It allows you to work with your mail data and messages even when you don’t have access to the mail server.
In this respect, the OST file is pretty critical to Outlook. Issues within the file can make working with Outlook tough or even impossible. Repairing the OST file via manual methods usually proves futile. Most Outlook users who are dealing with a corrupted OST file prefer to use competent software to repair the file. In this article, we will show you the top 3 OST repair tools you can use.
ScanOutlook with the end-user in mind – the tool is extremely easy to use and repairs the OST file within just a couple of minutes. The good thing about having ScanOutlook on your computer is that the tool works with all Outlook versions. The OST repair tool will help you recover an OST file belonging to Outlook 2003, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019.
The tool is not just ideal for repairing OST files, it can also help you repair PST (Personal Storage Table) files.
You can use it to recover all Outlook related files, like Journals, Notes, Tasks, Calendar, Contacts, Attachments, and emails, even the permanently deleted ones.
The tool lets you selectively export data in a wide range of formats, including PST, PDF, HTML, RTF, MSG, and EML.
The tool locates OST and PST files automatically. You can also search for the OST file if you do not know its default location.
ScanOutlook provides the opportunity to review your lost data for free.
Steps to Repair OST File Using ScanOutlook
Step 1. After launching ScanOutlook, select the OST file you would like to repair.
Step 2. Depending on your needs, you will need to select either Deep or Quick Repair. Next, hit the "Repair" button and wait for a couple of seconds for the repair process to finish.
Step 3. The repaired/recovered Outlook data files will be displayed on the left-hand panel. Click on each folder to preview the files.
Step 4. Select the files you would like to Export and then hit the “Export Selected” button.
Scanost.exe is an integrity check tool. It should be available on your computer by default, as long as you are currently using an older version of Outlook. The tool has lapsed and does not come up on Outlook versions 2013 and 2016.
Depending on the Outlook version you are using, you will find the scanost.exe tool in the following folders:
MS Outlook 2010: C:Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
MS Outlook 2007: C:Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
MS Outlook 2003: C:Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\scanost.exe
MS Outlook 2002/XP: C:Program Files\Common Files\System\MAPI\scanost.exe
MS Outlook 2000: C:Program Files\Common Files\System\MAPINT\scanost.exe
After locating the tool, you simply need to run it, select the folders you would like to scan, check Repair Errors and then hit the Begin scan button. Keep in mind that your Outlook has to be connected to the Exchange Server to enable the Scanost.exe file.
The tool can help you scan for errors in the OST file.
You can use Scanost.exe to repair OST errors.
The tool is easy to use.
Scanost.exe is not available on Outlook 2013, 2016, and 2019.
The tool may not help you recover lost data.
Exporting data in various formats is impossible when you are using scanost.exe.
The tool needs internet access.
This OST repair tool makes it possible for you to fix and recover OST files from both damage and corruption. It supports the extraction of a variety of data from the OST file – the supported data includes Task and Journals, Notes, Contacts, Calendar, and Mail. After extracting your data, the tool gives you the freedom to save the data selectively – you can choose the data to save and the one not to save.
The tool makes it possible for its users to work with encrypted OST files. SysTools OST Recovery supports the removal of S/MIME and OpenPGP encryptions from the OST file emails. Encryption removal is possible on all file sizes.
The tool features the ability to search for OST files on your computer. If you do not know the default location where your computer stores the OST files, you can use the search function to locate the file you would like to repair.
The tool lets you extract and recover your deleted Notes, Tasks, Journals, Calendar, and Mail.
The tool works with all Outlook versions.
The tool retains metadata on emails, including the read or unread status and the message dates.
The tool allows OST file decryption.
The OST repair tool appears to work only with OST files. It may not work with PST files.
The tool’s license is pretty expensive.
Its user interface is quite complicated.
If you are dealing with a corrupted OST file, the OST repair tools outlined in this article should help you deal with your issue. Of the 3 tools listed above, iMyFone ScanOutlook stands out. In addition to helping you repair your OST file, ScanOutlook makes it possible for you to repair the PST file. You won’t need any technical skills to use ScanOutlook – the OST repair tool will guide you through the repair process.
By James Crawford , to Outlook Repair
Updated on Dec 16, 2019