PST files are used to store copies of calendar events, messages, and other identical items. They are not only prone to corruption but also unreliable, which will sometime can data loss. Apart from that, the time required to resolve the PST file issues can drain the resource of the IT administrators.
Many companies now use different types of solutions to determine the location of the corrupted PST files while also transferring the data to someplace else so that they can completely terminate them.
In this article, we will discuss everything about the PST files and explore some reasons behind the corruption of the PST files. After that, we will discuss some strategies that should be implemented by the IT administrators to solve the PST file corruption problems.
Overview of the PST Files
Microsoft Outlook desktop client is responsible for the creation of PST files. The PST files are used to store calendar events, email messages, task lists, and many more essential items. Each PST file can be designed as a container that comes with a folder structure as well as several individuals. As the size of the attachments and emails can become quite large, and some PST files contain multiple items, the size of these files can sometimes grow to a couple of GB each. The overall size of the PST file is dependent on the MS Outlook version you’re using.
How they are used?
Through the “Auto Archive” function in MS Outlook, you can create the PST files, which removes the older files, data, and other items from Exchange and store them into the PST files locally. This is a default feature in the MS Outlook 2003 and 2007.
People also use the PST files when they want to move the email messages from one place to another, such as by migrating the mail servers or organizing a separate data copy. They can also be used by the end-users to organize or store the old email messages and attachments.
Why the PST Files are a Problem?
Even though the PST files are helpful, they are not robust. Not to mention, they are not designed for long-term storage or large data files. Sometimes the size of these files grows to excess, which is the primary cause of corrupt outlook, especially if users try to access them through a network. The time required to solve these PST file problems will undoubtedly drain the resource of the IT administrators.
After the introduction of Exchange 2010, MS Outlook developers realized the problems caused by PST file corruption and introduced effective attachments that can eliminate these problems. However, users can create these files, even if they are using the latest MS Outlook version.
Administrators are capable of disabling them, but many companies operate with a large number of PST files, and they often use that for various reasons.
How do PST Files Face Corruption?
The PST files are one of the most complicated file formats of MS Outlook. When the PST files are being created or updated, any interruption will cause corruption which will increase the chances of permanent data loss.
The PST files can face corruption if you open them in Outlook and the application or system shuts down abruptly. This can happen due to various reasons such as a crash of the system or Outlook, power failure, virus attacks, etc. As per Computer Hope, viruses cannot damage PC hardware.
Some companies store the PST files in their centre file server where the users can access them over the internet, even though Microsoft is against such configuration. In such cases, any problems in the network connectivity will cause PST corruption. Not to mention, when multiple users try to access the same PST file at the same time, they will also face corruption.
Another common cause of PST file corruption is when the overall size reaches the limit of the file type. The older version of MS Outlook has a size limit of 2GB. Therefore, when the size of the PST files exceeds 2GB, they will corrupt.
Types of PST File Corruption
Sometimes, the overall structure of the PST files will be corrupted. You won’t face problems identifying these files as they can be opened within MS Outlook. When you try to access these files, you will get an error message.
In other cases, a couple of individual messages and folders within the MS Outlook will be corrupted. These files are extremely hard to identify as they can be opened properly through MS Outlook. When users try to access specific messages and folders, the PST files will be corrupted. Other aspects of the PST file will seem normal. Therefore, the corruption might stay unidentified for a long time.
Dealing with Corrupted PST Files
Corrupted PST files are undoubtedly a problematic situation that can be solved with both free and paid tools. However, it’s suggested to use the paid tools as they are more effective at solving the PST file corruption problem. Sometimes you can use ScanPST files, but they might not prove helpful all the time.
Conclusion
Now you know everything about PST file corruption and some solutions. If you want to fix your PST file, don’t hesitate to contact us.
