OST files are made by MS Outlook when you try to work in offline mode (disrupted connection between MS Outlook & MS Exchange server). These offline storage files are very sensitive and easily get corrupted when logical or physical issues (Exchange Server crash, database corruption, user mailbox migration, user mailbox deleted, Exchange profile alteration etc.) occur. A long term connection disruption between Outlook & Exchange server or a long duration inaccessibility affect integrity and consistency of OST file and they become orphaned or useless. In practical scenario, there are many instances when users of MS Outlook in collaboration with MS Exchange server come across error messages that show that OST file is inaccessible as it is corrupted, damaged.
Such infected OST file and associated email data cannot be accessed until they are converted into PST format by a professional OST to PST converter. If you are facing OST file synchronization issues and suspecting that there are some problems with either the local OST file or the mailbox located on the Exchange Server, you should be very careful. You should create proper and regular backup of OST file as soon as possible so that any possible OST file data disaster situation can be resolved without losing crucial email data. During interrupted OST synchronization, you may get following error messages:
- Synchronizing server changes in folder ‘Inbox’
- Synchronizing Mailbox ‘USER’
- Synchronizing Hierarchy
- [8004011D-526-80040115-0]
- Downloading from server ‘Server_Name
The very first thing that comes in our mind is a question “Is there any free OST file recovery tool?†Answer of this question is yes. OST integrity check tool (Scanost.exe) is a free tool offered by Microsoft and used for checking and fixing OST integrity related issues. Scanost.exe tool can be found at following locations as per your MS Office version:
- For 2013: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15
- For 2010: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14
- For 2007: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12
- For 2003: C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\scanost.exe
- For 2002/XP: C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MAPI\scanost.exe
- For 2000: C:\Program Files\Common Files\SystemMAPI\NT\scanost.exe
Before applying this utility, you must create a backup copy of present OST file because it may loss some of your OST file data. Another aspect of this utility is that it is helpful in resolving only minor OST file integrity issues but not all OST issues. So, it may not offer you desired result and your problem may remain same. In order to get a well desired result of OST file recovery, you are recommended to look for a third party tool like The OST to PST. Whatever is the reason of OST file corruption or inaccessibility; it fixes all existing errors and extracts all OST file data by converting into PST format. It supports all versions of MS Outlook and MS Exchange server along with Windows 8 OS.