How to repair MS Outlook .OST files when its synchronization with Exchange Server fails?
What makes Microsoft Outlook the most preferred email client all around the globe is its Offline Working Mode feature. It keeps data in .OST files that serves as a backup and proves helpful in case of losing .PST files. All the mailbox items such as emails, notes, journals, calendar entries, contacts, tasks, posts, task requests, appointments, meeting requests, distribution lists, etc. are stored in Offline mode as well. It is just a replica of exact Exchange Server user mailbox and is stored on user’s local machine. On establishing connection with Exchange Server, every single change made to the user mailbox items gets reflected on Exchange Server simultaneously.
These .OST files may get damaged, corrupt or inaccessible due to numerous unseen reasons such as virus attacks, synchronization problem, network issues, mailbox corruption, oversized OST file, damage of database, breakdown of Exchange Server, software or hardware malfunctioning, insufficient storage space, accidental deletion of Server, abrupt application or Server shutdowns, etc.
In case MS Outlook fails to synchronize .OST files with MS Exchange Server, you might face some error messages. Failure in the synchronization of .OST files with Exchange Server may also lead to missing of files in Outlook mailbox. OST Integrity Checker (Scanost.exe) is an inbuilt utility by Microsoft that assists in checking and repairing the synchronization issues of MS Outlook.
While using OST Integrity Checker tool, MS Outlook mail account must be connected with the Microsoft Exchange Server. It is also to be noted that, while using OST Integrity Checker tool, it does not make any changes to the running MS Exchange mailbox. The tool scans both .OST file and mailbox on the Server running Exchange, compares the items and folders in each and tries to reconcile synchronization differences between them.
An error message that you might face when while synchronizing an .OST file with MS Exchange Server fails:
Unable to start processing services. /offline.ost cannot be accessed. You must connect to your Microsoft Exchange Server computer at least once before you can use your offline folder file.
Steps – How to Repair MS Outlook .OST File using OST Integrity Checker (Scanost.exe):
Steps – How to Re-create an Offline Outlook Data (.OST) File?
- Exit MS Outlook.
- In Control Panel > Click Mail.
- The title bar of the Mail Setup dialog box displays the name of the current profile. To select a different existing profile > Click Show Profiles > Select the Profile Name > Click Properties.
- On the E-mail tab > Select the Exchange Account > Click Change.
- Clear the Use Cached Exchange Mode check box > Click More Settings.
- On the Advanced tab > Click Offline Folder File Settings.
- Click Disable Offline Use > and then in the dialog box that appears > Click Yes.
- Again, click Offline Folder File Settings > Click OK > in the dialog box that appears > Click Yes.
- Under Cached Exchange Mode Settings > Select the Use Cached Exchange Mode check box > Click OK > Click Next > Click Finish.
- In the Account Settings and Mail Setup dialog boxes > Click Close.