OST files are often thought of as an Offline copy of your Exchange mailbox. They allow you to continue working even when not connected to the internet and sync all the changes that you make in Outlook with Exchange once the connectivity to Exchange is restored. However, like any other database, the Exchange OST file can also get corrupted and put all the data stored inside it in jeopardy.
Some of the reasons for OST corruption include:
Corruption in the file system
Sudden termination of main Outlook process resulting in its closure of Outlook
Synchronization issues
Malicious software infection
Here are some of the common OST file errors:
Error code 0x8004103b
Internal error of OST file (error code=0000000E)
OST Internal (error code=00000003)
Error-message/c5e20916-9359-43fc-9bd9
Error 8004011D-526-80040115-0
The best way to deal with all such OST issues is to use EdbMails OST to PST Converter that can help recover all information from even the most heavily corrupted OST files with ease. There is even a Free demo version of the OST to PST tool that allows to export upto 30 items from each mailbox/folder to PST file. The OST Recovery tool from EdbMails maintains the the folder structure intact and also does not make any alterations to the data in the original OST file.
Converting OST (Offline Storage Table) files to PST (Personal Storage Table) files manually is a complex process that involves exporting the data from the OST file to a new PST file. It requires technical expertise and is recommended for advanced users. Here's a general outline of the manual conversion process:
Important Note: Before proceeding with manual conversion, it's crucial to create a backup of your OST file as the process involves potential risks of data loss or corruption.
Open Microsoft Outlook: Ensure that you have Microsoft Outlook installed and configured with a valid email account.
Create a new Outlook Data File (PST): In Outlook, go to "File" > "New" > "Outlook Data File." Choose "Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst)" as the file type and click "OK."
Export mailbox data to the new PST file: To export the data from the OST file to the newly created PST file, follow these steps:
a. In Outlook, go to "File" > "Open & Export" > "Import/Export."
b. Select "Export to a file" and click "Next."
c. Choose "Outlook Data File (.pst)" and click "Next."
d. Select the mailbox or folders you want to export from the OST file to the new PST file.
e. Choose the newly created PST file as the destination and specify any desired options.
f. Click "Finish" to start the export process.
Wait for the export process to complete: Depending on the size of the OST file and the amount of data being exported, the process may take some time. Ensure that you do not interrupt the process and let it complete.
Verify the converted PST file: Once the export process is finished, verify the data in the new PST file to ensure that it contains the desired mailbox data.