Manual Repair of Corrupt Exchange OST Files: Limitations and a Smarter Alternative

In earlier versions of Microsoft Outlook, users could repair corrupt OST files using the built-in ScanOST.exe tool. This utility was designed to fix minor issues within offline Outlook data files. However, ScanOST has been discontinued in the latest Outlook versions. As a workaround, users now turn to ScanPST.exe (Inbox Repair Tool)—originally meant for PST files—which can sometimes repair OST files to a limited extent.

To use it, you need to locate ScanPST.exe on your system, load the OST file, and let the tool scan for errors. While it may resolve minor corruption, this approach has several drawbacks. It struggles with large or severely damaged files, often leading to incomplete recovery. Critical items like attachments, embedded images, or entire folders may still be missing after the process.

A More Reliable Solution: Exchange Recovery Tool

To overcome these limitations, the Exchange Recovery Tool provides a much more reliable and efficient way to restore corrupt or inaccessible OST files. Purpose-built for Exchange OST recovery, this tool can retrieve complete mailbox data—including emails, contacts, calendars, tasks, and journals—while preserving data integrity.

Its user-friendly interface and advanced scanning modes make it suitable even for non-technical users. Plus, it supports exporting recovered data to multiple formats such as PST, EML, MSG, and others, offering flexible recovery options.

Whether you're dealing with minor corruption or a completely inaccessible OST file, the Exchange Recovery Tool ensures a smooth, secure, and comprehensive recovery process.

Read More: https://www.datarecoveryfreeware.org/exchange-ost/