How to Fix Outlook Cannot Open PST File After Repair?

If your PST file is corrupted, you can use Outlook’s inbuilt utility – ScanPST, to repair the corrupt file. Sometimes, it happens that Outlook cannot open the PST file after repair. In this article, we will find out the reasons behind this issue and see how to fix it. We will also mention a powerful PST repair tool that can repair severely corrupted PST files without any file size limitations.

Outlook Data File

Handling issues in MS Outlook, especially PST file corruption, is difficult if you are not aware of the solution. It is yet more difficult when the inbuilt utilities (ScanPST) fail to rectify the issues. Once such an instance occurs, Outlook cannot open PST files after repair. Nevertheless, with the right knowledge and acumen, you can address the problems.

Consider a scenario: A user installed and configured Outlook 2016 on his brand-new system running Windows 11 operating system. Next, the user imported the old Outlook 2007(PST) data file in the newly installed and configured Outlook 2016, as all the old Outlook data was important, and the user needed those all. For a while, the import seemed successful as the user could access all imported data; however, after some time, he encountered Archiving and Personal folder issues in Outlook.

Having a basic knowledge of Outlook, he assumed that the Outlook profile was corrupt. Therefore, he created a new Outlook profile and tried to open the old Outlook (PST) data file as well as import the PST file. But he failed again!

Further, trying to understand the issue and figure out a solution through Google, he realized that the problem was a damaged PST file and that the reason for the damage was a large PST file. As suggested by different users, he used the ‘Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe)’ to repair corrupt Outlook PST files.

Steps to Use ScanPST.exe to Repair a PST File

ScanPST.exe is the Inbox Repair Tool provided by Microsoft to fix minor corruption in PST files. Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Locate ScanPST.exe

The location of the ScanPST.exe tool depends on your version of Outlook:

For 32-bit Outlook on 64-bit Windows:

  • Outlook 2021/2019/2016/Office 365:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE
  • Outlook 2013:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15\SCANPST.EXE
  • Outlook 2010:
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office14\SCANPST.EXE

For 64-bit Outlook on 64-bit Windows:

  • Outlook 2021/2019/2016/Office 365:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\SCANPST.EXE
  • Outlook 2013:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15\SCANPST.EXE
  • Outlook 2010:
    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\SCANPST.EXE

Step 2: Run ScanPST.exe

1. Navigate to the directory and double-click SCANPST.EXE to launch the tool.

SCANPST.EXE File

2. Click Browse, and locate the PST file you want to repair. PST files are typically stored in:

  • C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook
  • C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Documents\Outlook Files (for manually created PST files).

    Step 3: Start the Repair

    1. Click Start to scan the selected PST file.

    Outlook Inbox Repair Tool

    2. If issues are found, the tool will prompt you to repair them.

    • Before repairing, create a backup of the file by checking the Make a backup of scanned file before repairing box.

    3. Click Repair.

      Note: If the tool reports no errors but the problem persists, run ScanPST multiple times. For severe corruption, consider using third-party Outlook PST repair tools like Stellar Repair for Outlook.

      After executing the tool, he tried opening the PST data file in Outlook again but failed again. He could select the PST file but could not perform any function on this PST. He was not allowed to load PST files. On trying to import the PST, he encountered the error: “The messaging interface has reported an unknown error. If the problem persists, Restart Outlook.” This shows that the Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST) did not give the desired results because of the limitations attached to both the Inbox Repair Tool and Outlook Cropping Tool, the inbuilt utilities of MS Outlook. Therefore, these fail to give results. The reasons for failure are.

      Limitations of Inbox Repair Tool

      1. Cannot repair large-size PST files
      2. Cannot fix PST file directory structure and headers
      3. Cannot repair severely damaged Outlook PST files
      4. Requires knowledge of the entire file repair process, including the location of scanpst.exe as well as PST file location depending on Outlook version
      5. Scantpst.exe is an eight-phase process that may pause/terminate before completion due to a virus/malware attack or attack by other malicious code.
      6. In some cases, the tool displays an error message and fails to repair severely damaged PST files.

      The Inbox Repair failed. What is next?

      Know what to do if the inbuilt Outlook PST file repair utility (Inbox repair tool) and Outlook Cropping Tool by Microsoft fail to give the desired results, i.e., when you cannot open Outlook PST file even after repair or crop using the two inbuilt tools.

      In such a situation, use Stellar Outlook Repair by us at Stellar Data Recovery. Software can easily repair corrupt or damaged Microsoft Outlook (PST) data files and save the files to the user-specified location. It recovers all components like emails, attachments, calendars, contacts, journals, notes, etc., in a new PST file, which you can import into Outlook to access all the data items that were once inaccessible due to PST file corruption. Simple to download and install, repairing damaged PST files is also easy using this software. The complete PST file recovery process using this software is a simple 3-step procedure.

      Conclusion

      Most software/applications are prone to errors or operating problems at some point in time and have their limitations. The same is the case with MS Outlook. However, you should know how to overcome these issues.

      Here, even if scanpst.exe and Cropping tools fail to achieve the purpose of resolving in Outlook, use MVPs recommended Stellar Repair for Outlook software to resolve Outlook issues, including how to fix ‘cannot open Outlook PST file after repair.’

      Bret Mulvey

      Bret is a seasoned computer programmer with a profound passion for mathematics and physics. His professional journey is marked by extensive experience in developing complex software solutions, where he skillfully integrates his love for analytical sciences to solve challenging problems.