How reliable is scanpst.exe?

[heidiann]

How reliable is scanpst.exe?

I have a freshly formatted computer with barely anything on it and new
install of Office 2003. After downloading only 11 days of mail via
POP3, I thought that I'd run my .pst file in scanpst.exe just because
.... and it found errors.

Before my computer was formatted I backed up my old .pst file (which is
nearly 3 gigs). I am now using that .pst mainly as an 'archive' and
decided to run it through scanpst.exe as well (the original backup) ...
again, it came up with errors. That .pst, even being almost 3 gigs,
never gave me any problems whatsoever. No problems at all with Outlook
or e-mail messages.

How worried do I need to be about scanpst.exe finding errors? Why/how
would a new install of Outlook on a fairly clean OS create errors in
such a short amount of time?

Any and all help is appreciated. Thank you.

~Heidi

 

[William Lefkovics [MVP]]

I don't know... I'd have a look at the log file to try to see what the
errors represent.
There is at least one funny situation where the errors are not errors
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=817966

 

[Pat Willener]

A PST file is a complex data store, much more like a database than a
sequential file. As long as Outlook functions normally, there should be
no errors in that file. As long as Outlook is always closed gracefully
(and given enough time to terminate all add-ons) before Windows is shut
down, PST files should be safe from corruption.

Windows crashes will almost inevitably lead to data loss or corruption
of any open applications.

On the other hand, scanpst can repair many of the errors it finds.
Check the logfile for type and number of errors.

I back up my (pretty large) PST file about once a month, then run
scanpst on it afterwards. I have rarely ever found any errors on it.

 

[heidiann]

Is it okay to run scanpst.exe on an 'active' .pst file in Outlook? By
active, I mean that Outlook would be fully closed, but I'd run the
program on the .pst that Outlook was currently using. (I would of
course back it up first.)

Or do I have to make a backup, run scanpst.exe on it, and then import
the scanned/repaired file?

Thanks again.

~Heidi

 

[Pat Willener]

Sorry for the ambiguity; I make the backup just for safety, scanpst is
running against the real (active) PST file.