If a corrupt, inaccessible, or hard-to-open PST file occurs, users usually find out how to restore the valuable mailbox data. The backup restoration is applicable when there is a current and healthy backup. But what if the backup is old, partial, or there is no backup at all? Here comes the role of specialized PST repair software, which can become an effective alternative.
Comparison of PST File Repair Software vs. Backup Restoration Methods is vital since both approaches deal with different data recovery cases. While the restoration method implies that the mailbox data are replaced with the older version of it, the repair option allows to recover data from the current PST file. Users who lack a usable backup will benefit greatly from a professional repair tool.
Why Does an Outlook PST File Become Corrupt?
A PST file can get corrupted due to many factors. Hardware malfunction, synchronization issues, virus attacks, abrupt Outlook termination, and many other factors may corrupt the Outlook data file. If a PST file gets corrupted, Outlook will generate errors, will not be able to open the PST file, or will deny access to specific folders in the mailbox.
This can be critical for both companies and private individuals, as the PST file can include many years of emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes and other valuable data. Creating a new PST file will not retrieve lost data from the corrupted one.
Backup Restoration vs PST Repair
Restoring from the backup is probably the easiest form of recovery if the backup itself is trustworthy. The user will be able to restore an older version of his mailbox files and work in Outlook further. However, the restored file will not necessarily have all the emails and updates since its creation.
In case of PST file repair, this process requires a different method of dealing with the problem. Rather than relying completely on the old backup, there exists a special program that can examine the current state of the PST file and look into the recoverable information contained therein.
Thus, when choosing between vMail Outlook PST File Repair and backup restore, users need to take into account both the quality and recency of their backups and the current state of the original PST file.
A Practical Solution for Corrupt PST Files
A professional PST file recovery tool may aid the user in retrieving the mailbox information from the corrupt PST file. The tool checks the selected PST file and then displays the recoverable information prior to the save or convert action.
The recovery may involve Outlook messages, Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, Drafts, contacts, calendars, tasks, notes, and other elements of the mailbox. The product webpage states that the retrieved emails could be previewed before converting.
The preview feature is helpful for the user to check the recovered information before converting it to a new PST or exporting to some other format.
Repair PST Files Without Modifying the Original
When recovering files using PST recovery techniques, it is important that the original file be protected from being modified. From the information contained in the software description, the repair application does not change the original structure of the PST file, but instead extracts all the information, previews the information, and helps the user to save it in a new PST file or other format.
With this technique, the user will be able to use the recovered copy of the file.
Recover Different Outlook Mailbox Items
The PST file does not just contain emails, but depending on the mailbox, it may include contacts, calendar, tasks, notes, attachments, Inbox, Outbox, Sent Items, and Drafts.
A repair utility would be able to help in recovering all those different parts of Outlook as compared to recovering only emails from the PST files. The software page actually specifies the recovery of emails, contacts, calendar, attachments, notes, and other parts of the mailbox.
Preview Recovered Emails Before Saving
The size of the available information may not be clear when the PST file is corrupt. The preview feature enables the user to gain clarity on the data that can be recovered from the PST file.
Scanning of emails enables users to review the information prior to saving the emails. The user can then pick the relevant folders and confirm the information contained in the emails. The software enables preview of the emails before conversion.
This makes the process of recovering email messages more controlled, especially when dealing with big PST files.
Convert Recovered PST Data to Multiple Formats
In most cases, the process of PST repair is not limited to the creation of another PST file. In some cases, it may be necessary to transfer recovered messages into other programs or save them in various formats.
Conversion of recovered PST files can be done in EML, MSG, EMLX, MBOX, HTML, PDF, vCard, and vCal formats. The software allows export of PST data to Office 365 and Exchange Server.
Thus, the program can be used not only in case of repairing PST Files but also in mailbox conversion and migration tasks.
Split Large PST Files
PST files, especially big ones, can become hard to control, especially when they include a lot of information stored in emails and other attachments. One feature of the program allows for the splitting of big PST files into smaller PST files.
This way, users will be able to better manage their Outlook files and create small files out of them.
Recover Encrypted or Password-Protected PST Files
Also, the capability of working with encrypted and password-protected PST files is worth mentioning. According to the software page, this PST recovery utility can recover data from such PST files.
It may be important for users whose mail archives are encrypted and cannot be used in normal mode.
Use the Tool as an Outlook Converter
Once the PST file data is successfully retrieved, it may be required to transfer it to another email client or different file formats. In such instances, the same utility serves as an Outlook converter in that it enables one to export recovered data in various formats.
The program enables users to convert Outlook PST file data to EML, MSG, MBOX, EMLX, HTML, PDF, vCard, and vCal formats. It also allows users to export PST data to Office 365 and Exchange Server.
This is much more flexible than restoring an old backup file.
How to Repair and Convert a PST File
The process is quite simple. First of all, start the PST repair tool and open the PST file that needs to be repaired. The software will scan the PST file and fetch any mailbox information present in it.
Then comes the step where one previews the recovered e-mails and other items of Outlook. Select the desired data and choose the desired export format for the selected data. One may export the recovered data in any desired format, including PST file creation.
Once done, one can open the recovered PST file in MS Outlook, while the other exported formats can be utilized as per the user’s needs.
Final Thoughts
Restoration through backup is still considered one of the most effective means of recovery as long as there is a recent, full and healthy backup. But this may not apply in cases where the backup is either unavailable or it lacks the current mailbox data.
The use of PST repair tools is yet another method that is based on the process of scanning the file in its current state, previewing recoverable data, keeping up with the mailbox folder structure, and recovering various Outlook data types. This type of tool also has capabilities of exporting PST file data in various formats.
It all boils down to whether you have a good backup or not when dealing with corruption of Outlook data files. In cases where there is no such thing as an efficient backup, the repair and conversion solution becomes the only way out.
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