Repair question: use scanpst.exe or "Detect & Repair"?

[Jay]

Hi,

Please let me know if this is not the optimal newsgroup to post this
question in.

I have OL 2000 (9.0.0.2711) IMO running under Windows XP Home.

I just noticed a few folders and files are missing when I open OL2000.
Nothing major. I'm not receiving any error messages. OL 2000 opens OK,
sends e-mail OK; my sixth sense tells me the PST file is corrupted slightly
and I should endeavor to solve the problem now, before it gets worse. My
PST file is almost 1 GB.

After backing up my PST file, I can either run scanpst.exe on my PST file or
try Help/Detect and Repair (and insert my program CD when asked to), to try
and fix the problem. Which should I try first? I'm pretty sure, these are
independent repair techniques. jay

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Scanpst.exe is the one should run here.

In short;
-scanpst.exe repairs the datafile
-detect and repair repairs the Office programs

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[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Yes, they're independent. Make a backup of your PST file and try scanpst
first....note that although the official limit on a PST file for your
version of OL is 2GB, problems can crop up closer to 1.2 - 1.5 GB.

 

[Jay]

Roady and Lanwench,

Thanks for your advice. I used scanpst.exe and after the scan a box
appeared saying:

"Only minor inconsistencies were found in this file. Repairing the file is
optional. To repair it, click Repair."

The "details" button in this box was grayed out so I couldn't determine what
"minor inconsistencies" were found, but I elected to repair the file anyway,
using the "repair" button.

It turns out, upon close examination after the repair process, that 99.9% of
what I "thought" was missing from my PST file was really in the file all the
time, in a folder other than where I thought it should be. Now, there is
only one item that is inexplicably missing, even after the repair, but I
think that is due to reasons other than corruption of my PST file.

In the future, I think I'll periodically use scanpst.exe on my PST file,
just to monitor its health; couldn't hurt, like chicken soup, right? The
other approach would be to never use it until a problem arises. My thinking
is the former approach is like preventative maintenance and if I have the
time, worth it. I admit I've never read anywhere of anyone suggesting a
scanpst.exe "run," even once a year like a annual medical checkup, is
advisable. However, I have to think that resolving whatever the "minor
inconsistencies" were (I performed a scanpst.exe check on a subsequent
backup of the "repaired" PST file and it passed 100%), my getting rid of
them now reduces the chances of future PST problems. What do you think?
Jay

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

You're welcome. Yes, it's good to run this periodically, as well as
compacting the PST file regularly. You should make regular backups of your
PST file also - either manually or by using the MS Personal Folders Backup
Utility.

 

[Jay]

Lanwench,

Good suggestions; I'm pretty good on BU's but very bad on PST bloat (as you
can tell); it takes about 3 minutes to backup my 1 GB (approx) PST file now,
to a USB hard drive. This weekend I plan to export a great deal of my PST
file's messages to TXT files (and prune some attachments too, saving some
elsewhere on my hard drive) and then compact the PST file; I've got to get
it down to 1/3 or less of its present size (just under 1 GB).

Additionally, I'm thinking of using the "shrunken" PST file described above,
as an archive PST file, and starting over (i.e., with e-mail messages
received and sent, say from this Monday, forward) with a fresh PST file, but
with the same toolbars and folder structure. So, hypothetically, Monday, I
will have OL 2000 configured so that it will open the "new" PST file, alone,
sans any messages, but with all my folders ready to be filled up anew.

Can you suggest the easiest way to clone the soon to be "shrunken" PST file,
but without any messages, just the existing configurations, toolbars and
existing folder tree; I'll call this the "new" PST file. jay

 

[Roady [MVP]]

If you want to contain your folder structure you can run an Advanced Find on
your pst-file on all your folders but without any criteria. This search will
end up displaying all your items where you can easily delete them (about 200
items at once any more and the deletion could fail). Use SHIFT+DELETE to
skip the Deleted Items folder or you'll have to go to the same process
again.

Copy the empty folder structure to your new pst-file and you're good to go.

For tips on how you can clean your mailbox;
http://www.sparnaaij.net/howto/cleanmailbox.htm

--
Roady [MVP] www.sparnaaij.net
Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office related News
Also Outlook FAQ, How To's, Downloads and more...

Tips of the month:
-Save Embedded Pictures in Their Original Format
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[Jay]

Lanwench,

Thanks for the warning. I was relying on the 2 GB limit, but now I realize
I'm close to the edge now. I'm archiving like mad, putting my PST file on
a diet. Jay

 

[Jay]

Roady,

10-4. Thanks for the roadmap. Only thing I'm not sure about is the
mechanics of how to "copy the empty folder structure to your new pst-file."
Jay

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Hi Jay,

After the Advanced Find and deletion of the messages you're left with an
empty pst-file which still holds all the folders. You can now drag & drop
the root folder to a new pst-file so that the whole folder structure gets
copied in the new pst-file.

--
Roady [MVP] www.sparnaaij.net
Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office related News
Also Outlook FAQ, How To's, Downloads and more...

Tips of the month:
-Save Embedded Pictures in Their Original Format
-Create an Office XP CD slipstreamed with Service Pack 3

 

[Jay]

Roady,

thanks, I'll give it a try. jay