subject: Repair Pst - Error Message When Outlook Downloads E-mail [print this page] Microsoft Outlook is a messaging application which allows you to store your mails on the system. You need to create a profile to store your data in Outlook and use it. The application creates a file called the outlook.pst file. This is where the Microsoft Outlook stores all the e-mails and other personal information like contacts, tasks, appointments etc.
Though Outlook is a highly reliable email client, it is not without problems. At times, you may find your Outlook data or objects inaccessible due to numerous reasons including virus infection, application malfunction and improper system shutdown. Any damage to the .pst file renders all your Outlook data inaccessible. At such times you should repair PST file to salvage data thereon.
For example, you may get the following error message when trying to open Microsoft Outlook:
Unable to display the folder. The file C:documents and settingsOwnerLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlookOutlook.pst could not be accessed. Data error (cyclic redundancy check).
After this message, the Outlook window closes unexpectedly.
Cause:
The most common cause of this problem is the corruption of the outlook.pst file. Outlook accesses the .pst file, when you launch it. Since this is where the mails and other information from outlook get stored, corruption to this file means all your outlook e-mails, contacts, calender entries, etc., are rendered inaccessible.
Solution:
To resolve this problem follow the steps given below:
1-Check for errors on the hard disk: You can perform a hard disk scan using CHKDSK /f command-line utility. After performing the scan, check and see if Outlook works. If it still creates problems, proceed to the next step.
2-Re-create the .pst file:
1)To do this, first you need to first make a backup copy of the Outlook.pst file. Don't forget to close Outlook.
2)Then use the in-built repair tool known as the Scanpst.exe (Inbox Repair Tool) to repair corrupt .pst file. This utility, however, does not work on a large PST file or the PST file that has corrupted due to external reasons such as virus infection or application errors.
3)Create a new PST file. When you start outlook, it will displays a message that your personal folder file cannot be found. This is because you have renamed that earlier.
4)Import data from the old PST file to the new one.
If all the above methods fail, don't give up hope!! Try using a third-party software, one that can repair PST. Once the files have been repaired, you can import it and use the same to recover all your mails, contacts, calender settings and other information saved on Outlook. These software can be downloaded from the Internet, onto your system and then used to repair Outlook PST file. Thus rectifying the above error and making the PST file accessible.
