Possible corrupt .pst File

T

Terry Straehley

A client has an Outlook 2000 .pst file that is greater than 350MB. This
has been built up over several years. Outlook takes a long time to
open. The file can no longer be copied; when he tries that he gets a
message about a bad CRC check. This appears to be associated with one
folder. He tried to delete the folder, but it goes into the deleted
folder and can not be deleted from there. I seem to recall that there is
a practical limit on the size of .pst files. Also is there any utility
to rebuild a corrupt .pst file. We have tried to "compact" it to no
avail. TIA
 
R

Roady [MVP]

The limit is 2GB so that's not it.

You can run scanpst.exe against the file to check it for errors. First try
to clear the Deleted Items folder by using SHIFT+DELETE and the Preview Pane
off.

--
Roady [MVP]
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address when mailing)
 
J

Jim Johannsen, Santa Barbara, CA

I am Straehley client. I tried your suggestion but no go. Trying to clear
the Deleted Items folder resulted in a message "Deleted items is a special
folder. Special folders cannot be deleted"

Repeated the procedure with the CRC folder currently residing in the Deleted
Items folder but when I select the folder, long wait, then message comes up
with CRC error. Shift and delete does nothing.

Also tried the "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" and scan was
completed but no bad sectors reported.

Have done a search on scanpst.exe and cannot locate.

Any other ideas?


Roady said:
The limit is 2GB so that's not it.

You can run scanpst.exe against the file to check it for errors. First try
to clear the Deleted Items folder by using SHIFT+DELETE and the Preview Pane
off.

--
Roady [MVP]
www.sparnaaij.net
Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office related News
Also Outlook FAQ, How To's, Downloads and more...

Tips of the month:
-Create your own fully customized Toolbar
-Creating a Classic View in Outlook 2003
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive news and tips & tricks in your
mailbox!
www.sparnaaij.net

(I changed my reply address; remove all CAPS and _underscores_ from the
address when mailing)
-----
 
R

Roady [MVP]

I didn't say delete the Deleted Items folder I said CLEAR the Deleted Items
folder.

Scanpst.exe can be found here by default;
C:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\<localid>

--
Roady [MVP]
www.sparnaaij.net
Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office related News
Also Outlook FAQ, How To's, Downloads and more...
Tip of the month:
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Subscribe to the newsletter to receive news and tips & tricks in your
mailbox!
www.sparnaaij.net
(I changed my reply address; remove all CAPS and _underscores_ from the
address when mailing)
-----
Jim Johannsen said:
I am Straehley client. I tried your suggestion but no go. Trying to clear
the Deleted Items folder resulted in a message "Deleted items is a special
folder. Special folders cannot be deleted"

Repeated the procedure with the CRC folder currently residing in the
Deleted
Items folder but when I select the folder, long wait, then message comes
up
with CRC error. Shift and delete does nothing.

Also tried the "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" and scan was
completed but no bad sectors reported.

Have done a search on scanpst.exe and cannot locate.

Any other ideas?


in
message news:%23FBs2L$%[email protected]...
 
B

Brian Tillman

Terry Straehley said:
A client has an Outlook 2000 .pst file that is greater than 350MB.
This has been built up over several years. Outlook takes a long time
to open. The file can no longer be copied; when he tries that he gets
a message about a bad CRC check. This appears to be associated with
one folder. He tried to delete the folder, but it goes into the
deleted folder and can not be deleted from there.

My solution to this would be to create a new PST and make it the default
delivery location. Then I'd copy all of the folders you wish to keep, with
the exception of "Deleted Items" containing the "CRC" folder, from the old
PST to that new PST and, finally, close to old PST. Problem solved.
I seem to recall
that there is a practical limit on the size of .pst files.

About 1.8 Gb.
Also is
there any utility to rebuild a corrupt .pst file.

Scanpst.exe. Search for it on you hard drive, with "Show Hidden Files and
Folders" enabled if you're using Windows 2000, XP, or 2003.
 
J

Jim Johannsen, Santa Barbara, CA

Please excuse my weak level of knowledge.

The CLEAR button is not active on either the total Deleted Folders or the
CRC damaged folder.

I tried the scanpst.exe and it went through some files and then came up with
the message ""An unexpected error prevented access to this file. Use
ScanDisk to check the disk for errors, and then try using the Inbox Repair
Tool again."

I am sure I have used the ScanDisk before but now cannot find it in any of
my program files.

Any further suggestions?

Jim Johannsen, Santa Barbara, CA
 
J

Jim Johannsen, Santa Barbara, CA

Brian - I am the Straehley client.

I have tried the scanpst.exe but it wouldn't complete. See my earlier
message to "Roady" this date.

I can't figure out how to create the new .pst file as you suggest. Can you
provide additional instructions?

I am using W2000 and Outlook 2000.

Jim Johannsen, Santa Barbara, CA
 
R

Roady [MVP]

Open Explorer and rightclick the drive where the pst-file is located->
Properties-> tab Tools.

If this doesn't help either it could be very well possible that your
harddrive is beginning to fail.

--
Roady [MVP]
www.sparnaaij.net
Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office related News
Also Outlook FAQ, How To's, Downloads and more...

Tips of the month:
-Create your own fully customized Toolbar
-Creating a Classic View in Outlook 2003
Subscribe to the newsletter to receive news and tips & tricks in your
mailbox!
www.sparnaaij.net

(I changed my reply address; remove all CAPS and _underscores_ from the
address when mailing)
 
B

Brian Tillman

I can't figure out how to create the new .pst file as you suggest.
Can you provide additional instructions?

In Outlook, click File>New>Personal Folders File
 

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