Help! Corrupted Outlook.pst file

[ahobgood]

Outlook was working fine until this morning. Now when I attempt to start it,
I get a message that says the outlook.pst file is corrupted, use Inbox Repair
Tool to fix.

When I run scanpst.exe it appears to run 100% thru step 4, then says "an
error occurred, no changes were made".

I've run it twice with the same results.

Can anybody suggest a way out of this problem?

I have a backed up outlook.pst file but can't figure out how to import it
since Outllok won't run.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Pat Willener]

You don't "import" a backed-up PST file, you simply restore it (copy it
back to the original location).

 

[Vivek Hutheesing]

I have been troubleshooting my own related issue so the following may help
you though it did not resolve my issue. Do this. If the inbox repair tool
does not work then defrag your hard disk and then try the repair tool again.
To defrag, go to start > control panel > adminstrative tools > computer
management and then click on disk defragmenter - make sure you defrag your C
Drive at least once if not more than once - it will be faster the second and
third times. Then, as i mentioned, you might be able to run scanpst.exe with
success.

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Outlook was working fine until this morning. Now when I attempt to start
it,
I get a message that says the outlook.pst file is corrupted, use Inbox
Repair
Tool to fix.

When I run scanpst.exe it appears to run 100% thru step 4, then says "an
error occurred, no changes were made".

I've run it twice with the same results.

In addition to what Vivek said, alternating with runs of CHKDSK may help.

I have a backed up outlook.pst file but can't figure out how to import it
since Outllok won't run.

No need to import it. Put a copy of it in any folder not already containing
a PST of the same name. Then use the Mail applet in Control Panel to make
that PST the delivery location. When you start Outlook, it should open.