Outlook data file (.pst) is commonly referred to as the personal folder. It is called so because it stores mailbox content like email messages, notes, calendar items, attachments, contacts, and other folders on the local device. Saving mailbox folders locally helps better storage management of the servers, which in turn improves performance and reduces backup times. This crucial file may get corrupted due to some factors like a virus attack, an improper shutdown, or a low disk space. The corruption not only results in operational issues and email client freezes but also poses a serious threat to the data stored in such a damaged file. In some cases, Outlook users can’t find scanpst.exe due to severe corruption.
It may be noted that the structure of a .pst file is very complex. It contains a header with metadata followed by the structure containing the actual data. If the header contains some misleading information or if the metadata in the header is not correct, then the file can’t be accessed in Outlook. This situation demands urgent action. It is a great concern for users who haven’t created a backup of their file. Such users (who forget to back up their .pst file) need to fix PST files using the built-in Scanpst.exe. It is also possible that this utility may not be able to fix the corruption issue at all in the damaged .pst file. It is because this utility is best suitable for repairing small files (up to 2 GB) with minor issues. If the corruption falls in the severe to complex category, then the Inbox Repair tool (ScanPST) would not even recognize the file. Facing the issue “Fixing PST file, Scanpst.exe tool won’t even recognize the file” is extremely frustrating, especially in cases where the user is trying to recover business-sensitive email messages and data. In such a scenario, the user needs to employ some specialized PST repair software to fix the issue and save the vital business data.
Why a User Can’t Find ScanPST.exe?
Some of the key reasons for this are listed below:
-Incorrect Outlook version path: The location of this utility depends on the version of the application. Discover the utility manually on the following locations:
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16: For 2016, & 2019 versions of Outlook
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15: for users with MS Outlook 2013 version
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14: for users working on the 2010 Outlook version
-Hidden file: This built-in utility is basically a hidden file. To explore such files, users require to enable the option to see hidden files in their file explorer settings.
-Outlook application not properly installed: If the application was not installed correctly, then the Inbox Repair tool (ScanPST) may not be available.
Understanding the Error:
Let’s decode why ScanPST fails to recognize a PST file. Well, there can be multiple reasons for this error. But in the majority of cases, the main culprit behind this error is corruption. Some factors responsible for this error are:
- Extreme Corruption: Complex corruption within the header of the file or major data loss within the file structure might make a PST file unreadable for Scanpst.exe.
- An Oversized File: Sometimes the Outlook data file (.pst) exceeds Outlook’s threshold (e.g., 20GB for Outlook 2010 and later versions); this issue can happen. It occurs because of multiple corruption events (like power outages, virus attacks, etc.). This scenario makes it difficult for the Scanpst to read the .pst file.
- Unsupported Format: If a user tries to repair a .pst file created in an older format on a new device with the latest Outlook version, this issue may occur.
- Sharing Files Over Insecure Network: It is one of the causes of severe .pst file corruption. When the user shares a data file (.pst) over an insecure network, it can cause the loss of data packets as well as malware infections. Due to this, the ScanPST fails to recognize or repair it.
- File System Errors: If there is some bad sector in the storage area where the .pst file is stored, it can amount to severe corruption that surpasses Scanpst’s capacity to detect and repair the corrupt data file (.pst).
- Virus Attack: Any malware attack can severely damage a .pst file. It leads to a complex corruption scenario that may outsmart Scanpst’s ability to detect as well as repair the damaged file (pst).
- Using Unreliable Tools: When the user utilized some untested utility tools to perform tasks like email marketing or compression, it may severely corrupt the Outlook data file (.pst). Due to this corruption, the ScanPST may not be able to detect the .pst file.
When fixing PST files, the Scanpst.exe tool won’t even recognize the file; Outlook users are required to use alternative solutions like third-party PST repair software. Such tools with advanced algorithms are smart enough to detect an inaccessible or severely corrupted .pst file. Stellar Repair for Outlook is one of such tools. This software is appreciated by IT admins for its capabilities. Its ability to repair an inaccessible .pst file, irrespective of its size is awesome. The trial version of this software offers the preview the repaired .pst file with all its content. This PST repair software is also compatible with all Outlook versions. Additionally, the user can export the repaired file in different file formats like PST, EML, MSG, RTF, HTML, and PDF.
Conclusion
ScanPST is the first-aid available to fix corruption issues in the .pst file. But the capabilities of this utility are limited. It is best for fixing minor corruption issues. But if the file size is big and the corruption level is extremely complex, then it may fail to recognise the file. In such a case, the user needs to utilize a professional PST repair tool. One of such tools is Stellar Repair for Outlook. It is capable of recovering even deleted or inaccessible mailbox items. This reliable tool is powered with a friendly GUI. With an advanced algorithm, it can fix even a severely damaged .pst file (like in the case of a malware attack).
