Business success depends on smooth flow of communication. Peers working on different parts of the project must communicate effectively to meet deadlines. But what if any team member’s Outlook start experiencing sudden crashes and freezes because of a large PST file. 

Let’s understand Outlook data file (.pst). Also touted as the personal folder, the Personal Storage Table (.pst) file is of paramount importance. Every Outlook user knows that there is a size limit on this data file. The size limit depends on the Outlook version. Let’s understand this with the below table:

If you run business and use Outlook for work communication, then checkout this guide titled How to Fix Large PST Files for Businesses It will explore risks associated with an oversized data file (.pst). This post will also shed light on how to repair a damaged file using ScanPST.exe. The guide will also answer the users who want to know what to do when ScanPST not responding. Additionally, it will also suggest when to use professional PST repair tools. 

How large PST files are Problematic for Business Users?

After exploring the file size limit across different Outlook versions, let’s understand why an oversized .pst file can create problems for business owners. Let’s take a case study. A software company is divided in several teams. There is a huge influx of emails among peers. Some employees receive emails with large attachments. If the .pst file size is not maintained, it may lead to following issues:

• Operational issues: The user may encounter frequent crashes or even freeze. The application struggles to load. There is a problem with searching contacts, searching email messages. Sometimes even sending mail will be problematic.
• Delay in communication: Operational issues caused by an oversized data file (.pst) prevents sending/ receiving emails, contact/ mail search, etc. It delays frequent flow of communication. 
• Hard to repair: In many cases when users try to fix severely corrupt or large .pst files, they end up with ScanPST not responding error.
• Corruption: A large PST file may corrupt business emails with sensitive information. In such a case, the user may end in permanently losing the entire business data. 
• Loss of productivity: Repairing a damaged file using traditional methods consumes substantial hours. It directly impacts productivity. 

How to Repair an Oversized PST?

In this part of the post, we will explore methods to fix a large Outlook data file (.pst). Follow the below steps:

Fix 1: File Compacting: The step-by-step instructions for compacting a large Outlook data file (.pst) are listed below: 

• Browse the Outlook app.
• Go to the email ID. Right click the tab.
• Choose Outlook Data File Properties.

• Browse Data File Settings. Press Advanced.

• Select Outlook Data File Settings from the dropdown.

• Conclude by pressing Compact Now.

Method 2: Repair Using ScanPST: 

It is best suitable for repairing small files. This built-in functionality in Outlook runs multiple scans to ascertain inconsistencies in file header or structure. After diagnosing the issue, this utility then fixes them. The step-by-step guide is listed below:

Step 1: Find this utility on your system. 

The location of this functionality varies on Outlook versions. Checkout the below illustration for more clarity:

Step 2: Exit the Outlook. Close all linked-apps and processes.

Step 3: Start the ScanPST utility by double clicking its icon.

Step 4: Enter the name of the damaged .pst file. 

Step 5: Choose the file in the document library. Click it. After this press the Open tab. 

Step 6: Click the ‘Start’ tab.

Step 7: The process progress will be displayed on a box window. 

Step 8: A window will reflect the scan result. Tick the check box for pre-repair backup. After this hit the ‘Repair’ tab.

Step 9: Now press ‘OK’ to finish the repairs.

Step 10: Re-launch the app. Investigate if the repaired .pst file is working properly.

Why ScanPST May Not be Sufficient for Business?

We have stated earlier that this utility is the best for small files. It may not work on large .pst files. Since business files are large, they may face below hurdles:

• Big Data Files: Business users send/ receive emails in bulk. Some also carry large attachments. This scenario is beyond the repair capacity of ScanPST. The user may encounter “ScanPST not responding” error during the process. 
• Time Loss: This utility runs multiple scans, which is time consuming. Excess time consumption in a repair process is bad for any business.
• Partial Repair: ScanPST may leave some folders in the process. The utility may miss severely-damaged attachments or folders.

Why go for the Professional PST Repair Tools?

Business environment involves large frequency of emails. Many emails contain graphics, large attachments, excel reports, etc. This scenario results in building of huge data and meta data, causing large .pst files. It is obvious that ScanPST alone can’t handle such business environment. The utility may crash during the repair process. Such a situation demands professional PST repair tools. IT admins and MPVs advocate software like Stellar Repair for Outlook for the following reasons:

• Large files: Professional tools can efficiently repair data files (.pst) of any size. 
• Quick repair: ScanPST consumes loads of productive time. But tools like Stellar Repair for Outlook are known for their quick repair speed. Fast repair means no time loss.
• Full recovery: Third-party software can repair emails with large attachments, which may not be possible in case of ScanPST.
• Batch repair: Tools are also capable of performing batch repairs of .pst files. 

Conclusion:

Many Outlook users often query How to Fix Large PST Files for Businesses In the above guide, we have explored that .pst file corruption owing to large file is not an alien word in business. We have also discussed how an oversized .pst file is problematic for business. The post also highlights 2 methods-File compacting and ScanPST- to repair a damaged file. Additionally, we have discussed why professional PST repair tools are recommended by IT experts for business environment. We have also unearthed Stellar Repair for Outlook, a popular software for the same. Its USP is its ability to quickly fix even a large PST file (over 10GB). This in turn saves sensitive business data as well as productive time of the user.