PST contains no data

P

Parker309

I have a 600MB PST file that is no longer opening
properly. When I link Outlook to view this pst file there
seems to be no data. As if it was a newly created
personal folder. The strange thing is this file
DEFINITELY has data. Copying it over the network to a
test machine took as long as expected for a 600MB file.
Whenever I try and view this pst within Outlook there is
only the Deleted Items folder and yet is empty. Any
thoughts? Thanks in advance.

-parker309
 
M

M Skabialka

ALWAYS make a backup copy of the .pst file before doing anything to it!

I have used this method to recover an Outlook 2002 .pst file which could not
be opened.

In Outlook 2003 I created a new .pst file (Tools, Services, Add, Personal
Folder).

File | Import and Export | Import from another program or file | Personal
folder file (.pst)

Follow the prompts to select the corrupted .pst as the import from and the
new .pst as the file to import into, replacing all messages.

At first it may look as though it freezes Outlook if it is a big file, but
if the hard drive is cranking along it's OK.
It should then show the entire structure of the corrupted file, and you
should be able to continue and tell it to place it all in the new.pst. The
user on Outlook 2002 was able to then open the file.

I have been told this shouldn't be done, but it doesn't affect the original
file and it did work to recover the lost information into a new file. After
all, you have nothing to lose right now! You should always make a copy of
the original file anyway, just in case.

Mich
 
P

parker309

Thanks for the reply. I did your suggestion and still see
no data. This is the strangest thing. The file itself
shows 600MB and even behaves like a large file when moved
around the network, but contains nothing. Can there be
hidden items? I am stumped. Thanks again.
 
B

Brian Tillman

M Skabialka said:
I have used this method to recover an Outlook 2002 .pst file which
could not be opened.

In Outlook 2003 I created a new .pst file (Tools, Services, Add,
Personal Folder).

File | Import and Export | Import from another program or file |
Personal folder file (.pst)
Click to expand...

I have no confidence that a PST file that can be opened and shows no
contents will suddenly report contents with an import.
 
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