I'm facing a real challenge at work with a large corrupted PST file from Outlook. The file is about 50GB, and my manager has been experiencing a lot of email issues lately. When I finally investigated, I discovered that her PST file was nearly maxed out. I tried using SCANPST to repair it three times, but it hasn't worked at all. I've also copied the PST to a new hard drive to try and work with it, but now it won't open in Outlook, and I keep getting error messages about corruption. I'm looking for advice on how to recover these emails. I've read about increasing the PST size limit in the registry, should I try that? What other options do I have?
5 Answers
Have you tried adjusting the MaxLargeFileSize in the registry to surpass the 50GB limit? Set the values in HKCUSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0OutlookPST like this: MaxLargeFileSize to 10000000 and WarnLargeFileSize to a lower number. If the file still opens, you might be able to export some emails to a new PST and then compact it.
If SCANPST isn't helping, consider trying out third-party recovery software like Stellar Repair or Kernel PST recovery tools. They usually have better luck with damaged files than the built-in tools. Also, when copying the file, make sure you're using a method that preserves data integrity — maybe use a tool that can check for any corruption during the copy process.
Why not plug the original hard drive back in? Sometimes it gives better access, and frankly, copying PST files can lead to corruption if done incorrectly. You could check everything directly on that original hard drive instead.
The 50GB limit can be a real headache. If you're trying to recover this, think about creating new PST files for each year to avoid hitting that size limit again. It's a hassle now, but it might save you from future issues!
Honestly, if SCANPST isn't working, be prepared to deliver some bad news. I've seen cases where recovery just isn't possible. But who knows, someone might have a better tool that can help.
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