How to Repair Outlook OST File Using Scanost.exe Tool?

The blog explains the working of Scanost.exe Tool to repair Outlook OST file. Also, if scanost.exe does not work, you can use an alternate solution mentioned here.

OST is offline folder of Outlook email client. OST carries copy of mailbox data that exists of Exchange Server. When you are not connected with Exchange Server, you can access OST files offline. The benefit of OST file is you can easily access your data without connecting to Exchange Server.

What is Scanost.exe?

Many times OST file become corrupt and it needs recovery. Therefore, to repair OST file items, Outlook has offered an Inbuilt repair tool i.e. Scanost.exe. It is located inside Office folder inside MS Office installation folder. This tool checks and fix all OST file errors. It is available freely. It is also known as Outlook Inbox Repair Tool. Let us first understand the main causes of OST corruption and then know the working of scanost.exe.

Reasons responsible for OST file corruption

1. Virus infection
2. Power fluctuations
3. Synchronization issue with server
4. Sudden system shutdown
5. Bad sector existence in hard drive where OST is saved

How to use Scanost.exe Tool?

• Close Outlook application.
• Locate scanost.exe at Drive:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office_version location
• Double click on scanost.exe
• Select a profile according to your Outlook setting.
• Click on Connect when you ask for connect or work offline.
• Now, choose all folders of OST or specific folder. Select Repair errors if you want to repair the errors during scan.
• Click on Start Scan
• Scanning process get started. Now, wait for it to complete.

Advantages of scanost.exe tool:

• Repair damaged Outlook OST files
• Recover corrupt OST file data
• Free tool to use

Disadvantages of scanost.exe tool:

• Resolve minor corruption issues of OST file.
• Can’t repair OST file more than 2 GB in size.
• Repair files by running this tool multiple times.

What’s next when Scanost.exe fail to repair OST file?

Sometimes, OST file corruption can’t be handled by scanost.exe tool as it deals with minor corruption issues. In that case, there is an alternate solution i.e.OST Recovery Tool. This will smartly recover all items of OST file like emails, contacts, notes, calendars, tasks, etc. It is very easy to use and smoothly repair any oversized OST file all items in a few clicks.

Advantages of the software:

• Friendly to use with self-expressive steps.
• Open healthy and damaged OST files.
• Open password-protected OST files too.
• No file size barriers to use it.
• MS Outlook not required to recover OST file items.
• Comes with demo version to analyze it.
• Move all items from OST to PST file.

Concluding Lines

The use of scanost.exe tool is explained in this post with its advantages & disadvantages. You can use it for fixing OST file corruption issues. When it fails, users can go with alternate solution to repair and recover OST file items. Try out the free version of the software to test it before you apply for the license version.