subject: Ost Recovery After Switching To Workgroup [print this page] A workgroup is defined as a logical grouping of computers that are allowed to share resources, data files, and send e-mails. On the other hand, domain is a computer group, which is administered as a single unit and shares centralized database, such as an Exchange Server domain. A domain can be converted to a workgroup and vice-versa. However, if you do so in an Exchange Server configuration, keep in mind to first import data from Exchange *.ost file (Outlook Offline Folder that stores all e-mails, calendars, etc.) to a *.pst file, i.e. import data from OST to PST. An OST file cannot be synchronized or accessed if no authentic account is available to log-on to Exchange Server.
There have been several realistic problems in which an OST has been left as orphaned due to unavailability of an Exchange Server account. For example, consider a user who accesses an Exchange Server account in his organization and has a *.ost file containing his important e-mails and data. The user leaves his/her organization without changing the file to a valid PST and later sets up his/her computer to workgroup. The Exchange Server administrator in the previous organization deletes all the login details from his database. Consequently, the OST file and hence the e-mails are no longer accessible.
The reason why one cannot access an OST file in such cases in the absence of an Exchange Server account is Exchange Server authentication policy. OST is an offline folder that can only be accessed by a computer when it completes an authentication test and logs in with a valid SID on an Exchange Server account. When this condition is not fulfilled, OST is left orphaned on the local computer.
The only solutions to deal with these problems are either to restore data from backup or to use a third-party Convert OST to PST utility. Exclusive OST to PST tools can extract data from an orphaned or damaged *.ost file and later restore it to a *.pst file, without changing the integrity of the file.
Stellar Phoenix Mailbox Exchange Desktop is one such utility that is known for its risk-free algorithms and guaranteed Convert OST to PST results. A simple software allows converting an orphaned or corrupted OST file to an Outlook-usable PST. The tool supports MS Outlook 2007, 2003. 2002, and 2000.
