Outlook PST file - Can I fix it ?

Hello, this is my first time on this forum, so I'll do my best to explain.

I have a W98SE machine. I'm running Outlook 2000.
I'm of average intelligence on computers, but I ran into something that's way out of my league.
I had my computer freeze up a few weeks ago. I rebooted and when I tried to open Outlook, it told me my PST file was damaged or corrupted, and to run
the inbox repair tool. So, I tried to run scanpst.exe and it kept telling me it couldn't complete due to a drive error. I looked that up online and another guy was told on a forum to run scan disk and defrag before attempting. Well, I did just that..... my scan disk kept freezing and not completing, so I checked the box to not automatically fix errors, I opt'd to be prompted. I got some prompts saying things I didn't understand, and like and idiot I picked to delete some files...... but finally the scandisk completed, the the defrag went through fine.
Now, I got back to the scanpst.exe program and it ran through great and fast, but the bad thing is, after the scan, I fired it up and when it opened, it
only shows the last 14 emails I sent.... not the 7000 that were in my inbox and sent folder. The odd thing is, it shows the PST file to be a size of 1.3GB, which is what it was and still is, but it's like outlooks does not see them or pull them up.
Some of these emails are very important, and I'm wondering if there is any program I can run to fix my problem, or retreive the actual emails contained in this PST file. I'm desperate and need help.

Can anyone out there help me ?

Thank you in advance.

Ryan Poulos
Celina,TX

 

Ryan.. backups are your friend
1.3 GB is an absolutely gigantic pst file size. What I recommend you do is make a backup of the current corrupted pst file. Then run a compact on the original file through outlook and then try the scanpst again. let us know how goes.

On a side note, i would start backing up everything important to you.

 

Hello there Kodo, thanks for your help.....
I'm of average computere intelligence , so what exactly is running a compact ?

1.3GB I know is a big one.... I learned the hard way once before that
you don't want a PST file hitting 2Gb either.... I'm just terrible about
archiving and deleting emails.. I guess I'm an email packrat !!
I've learned my lesson on backing up files after this one....trust me

Thanks,
Ryan

 

Compacting just reduces the size of your pst file. Over time as you acquire email, files, delete , move forward..etc etc.. the file grows. Compacting removes the unnecessary "stuff" that is in the file.

It looks like you're on office 2003. If you go to file, data file management, the choose your pst file from the dialogue box and click on settings, you will have the option to compact. REMEMBER TO BACKUP THE CURRENT FILE BEFORE YOU DO THIS.. reason being is I don't know if it will corrupt further or what..

 

I went to the MS site and they said to do the following :

To Manually Start PST Compaction
1. On the Tools menu, click Services.
2. Click to select Personal Folders, and then click Properties.
3. On the General tab, click Compact Now.
4. Click OK twice.

The bad news is, I don't have a Services tab !! UGH !!
Will doing the compact run ( if I can figure it out ) possibly
fix the file so I can see all the ones still in there ?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

I also have Outlook 2000.......

Thanks,
Ryan

 

I haven't used office 2000 in a while.. are you sure there's no DATAFILE MANAGEMENT menu item under the file menu?

 

It's compacting now.
On mine, I had to open the PST file, right click on it, choose advanced, and select 'Compact Mail File'
I'll let you know what happens.....

Thanks,
Ryan

 

1.3G.. gonna take a while.. see you in about 45 minutes

 

It's cooking along.... and it must be seeing the whole file because it's taking a while.
So should this hopefully fix whatever is going on ? Meaning, when this is done, and I try to re-open it, should Outlook see them ?
I'm just wondering if there is anything I need to do after this before I try and re-open the file.

Thanks again, I really appreciate the help.
By the way, I promised myself if I fixed this, I'd buy a new computer and get the latest OS, outlook, and whatever backup software I need. This has really
given me a reality check.....

Ryan

 

I don't know , Ryan. I'm hoping that it might get it so the inbox repair tool will be able to fix it.

The last thing we could try is actually exporting the current PST to another PST file and loading that new PST file up.

 

Well, I ran the Compacter all the way through, and then ran scan pst again.
The scanpst.exe ran over it quick !! It whipped through all 8 phases in about 20 seconds.... then it said it had no errors, and it only had 16 Folders, and 34 file...... so it's still not seeing the full 1.3GB.....

So any advise on what to do next ?

Thanks,
Ryan

 

if you have outlook express..see if you can import the pst file ..curious to see if it finds the data..

 

Well, here's an update.

I tried exporting it to a new PST file. I'm sure glad I made a copy first.
The new PST file it made went from 1.3GB to 10,936KB..... it's like it almost
all but went away.....
Now when I open it, it's just like it was before.... It shows 1.3GB, but when scanned, it still shows 16 folders, 34 files......I had 7000 emails in my inbox
alone on that PST file.....

Next thing.... I tried importing into Outlook Express.... it only imported the emails that I can actually see when I open it in outlook. Meaning, the other 6987 emails are not importing......

So, is there anything else I can do ?

Thanks,
Ryan