How to Find and Run Scanpst.exe

FileName.pst file could not be opened. The file may not be compatible with this version of Outlook or it may be corrupted

If you are getting such kind of error messages and you are not able to open PST file means, file may be corrupted. Due to corruption in PST file you are not able to access file and get several error message which are the indication of corruption in MS Outlook PST file.

Error have been detected in the file c:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\outlook.ost. Quit Outlook and all applications, the use Inbox repair tool (scanpst.exe) to diagnose and repair the errors in the file.

Scanpst.exe is inbuilt tool in Microsoft Outlook application provided by Microsoft. It is single executable program which is generally used to repair and recover corrupted or damaged PST file. This is free PST repair tool which is prominent tool to fix corruption issue. Here you are advised to use Scanpst.exe inbox repair tool to repair corrupted PST file. To run scanpst.exe first you need to find its location.

Scanpst.exe location varies from Outlook versions and the language preferred to install it. But the default location is-

C:\Documents and Settings\USER_NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook\"

As Scanpst.exe reside as hidden file in system hence make sure that you have enable the option to view hidden file while you are searching for it. If you are unable to find then search it through Windows explorer.

After finding it, when you are going to run scanpst program make sure that you have closed outlook application and all emails and other items stored in PST file.

Double click on it to launch inbox repair tool. Now locate the path of the corrupted PST file which you want to repair.

After locating PST file, click on the "start" button to start the scanning process. This process include only scanning of the file, tool will not change anything stored in it.

Generally repair process continues to the 8 steps but it may take some time depending upon the size of the corrupted PST file.

After completing the process you will see a window which show that scan is completed and now you are ready to repair corrupted PST file. It shows whether it found any error or not. If there is any error found then just press "OK". Before starting repair process make backup of corrupted scanned PST file because if during backup process any misshapen then from the backup you can recover it back. For that check the box and make backup. Now click on “Repair” button to start repair process.

After completing the process, it shows confirmation message which shows repair process has been completed.

This way you can run scanpst to repair corrupted PST file but if you are not able to find the location of scanpst.exe which indicate that either it has been deleted or not installed properly then you are advised to use third party PST repair tool to repair and recover data from corrupted PST file. It has user friendly interface which makes easy to use by any individual.