How to eliminate corruption issues of the OST file

OST file is the offline data file of an outlook mailbox connected with an exchange domain server. OST file is created within an exchange mail environment and it allows the outlook users of exchange server to use their accounts in offline period. Changes made by the outlook users during offline period are recorded in OST files. The changes of OST files are transferred to the Outlook PST files, when link between MS outlook and exchange mail server is re-established.

However, many times data transfer from OST to exchange mail server fails. There may be several factors behind non-synchronization of OST with exchange domain network such as:

• Error in networking drive: Changes in OST file fail to synchronize with exchange mail server, due to problem in network drive. The problem may arise due to broken LAN or WAN cables and damaged Ethernet ports of window system.

• Corrupt Storage Media: OST files are stored locally in different client computers of exchange server. When hard disk of a client computer are physically damaged or have multiple bad sectors, all files including OST file stored in it also become corrupt.
• Unexpected System shutdown: OST file becomes inaccessible due to accidental shutdown of the computer system. The window program may be forced to shut down due to poor backup by UPS system, power cut or hardware problem.
  
• Virus and spyware codes : Malicious programs can enter in the exchange domain server from external sources like pen drive and floppy drive. These programs block the OST files for use.

Outlook users cannot open their personal mailboxes due to OST file corruption. It is very important to know the exact cause of OST file corruption before troubleshooting the issue. If OST file is damaged due to certain virus code, you should run an effective antivirus program on the corrupt file. This will clean your OST file from infection.

Microsoft has added free email recovery tool scanpst.exe in outlook program. You can find the scanpst.exe utility in MS office folder of your computer drive. Scanpst.exe can repairs both PST file and OST file of MS outlook. The software successfully fixes minor corruption issues of PST files such as oversized PST file and CRC errors.

However, scanpst.exe is not capable of restoring a batch of OST files. You must run a third party OST to PST tool to retrieve emails of inaccessible outlook mailboxes. OST file conversion software successfully fixes both minor and severe corruption issues of OST files. The software is capable of retrieving all emails and attachments from the damaged OST file. OST file conversion utility sends the retrieve emails of corrupt outlook mailbox in a new PST, MSG, EML or DBX file.

Kernel for OST to PST file conversion supports recovery of both UNICODE and ANSI emails from the inaccessible OST files of exchange server. It supports different versions of exchange mail server, MS outlook and outlook express. OST file conversion utility can successfully run on Window versions 98, 2000, XP, 2003, 7 and Vista. Before, buying an email recovery program, I advice the users to evaluate the software.