subject: Importance Of Ost [print this page] An OST is a local copy of your Exchange mailbox, which is available on your computers hard disk. OST contains all information and data similar to the data stored in your mailbox on Exchange server. It contains everything like email folders, contacts, distribution lists, notes, journals, drafts, to do list, etc. Using the OST file, you can work offline with Outlook. When you select to work offline, a file with the .ost extension gets created on your computers hard disk.
You can work in offline mode similarly as you work in online mode that is you can create emails, delete emails, create drafts, create calendar items, write notes, etc. Whatever the work you do in offline mode, it will be reflected in your mailbox on Exchange server. However, all changes appear in the mailbox only when you go online. As soon as, you are connected to Internet, Outlook synchronizes the OST file with Exchange server and work done during the offline mode now appears in the mailbox. While synchronizing with Exchange server, a log file is created containing information about the synchronization process. This file helps you find the cause in case the synchronization process is failed.
OST may fail to synchronize with Exchange server due to many reasons like Exchange server is crashed, OST is damaged, etc. The OST file can be damaged when exceeds its maximum size. Outlook versions 2002 and earlier have 2 GB limitation for OST. When OST reaches or crosses this limit, it may get damaged leading into the loss of emails, notes, contacts, etc. In the scenario, when OST is having problem, we suggest you to use OST to PST converter tool for repairing the damaged OST file and converting the repaired OST file into PST. While using OST to PST converter tool, you need to provide the location of the damaged OST file. Depending on the version of Windows operating system, location of OST can be different. Following are the location of OST file on various Windows operating systems:
OST location in Windows 95, 98, and ME:
C:WindowsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
OST location in Windows NT, 2000, XP, and 2003
C:Documents and Settingsuser nameLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook
OST location in Windows XP:
C:Usersuser nameAppDataLocalMicrosoftOutlook
Depending on the operating system that you are using with Outlook, you can search above-specified locations for finding OST. An OST to PST converter tool while repairing the damaged OST file maintains the formatting and structure of emails, contacts, calendar items, etc. Therefore, the repaired items can be used as is. There is no need to reform the recovered items.
