Microsoft Outlook is a widely used email client. It stores all the local copies of its email messages and other contents in a single personal folder (.pst file). The file might get corrupted due to file size limitation, unexpected shutdown, application errors and other similar causes. Thus, you will need to use Data Recovery Software if no valid file backup is available.

As an example, when you start Microsoft Outlook, you might end up with no mail folders but the following error on screen:

“The file <drive>:\<path><file name>.pst could not be found.”

Since Outlook doesn’t find any PST file, it displays an option to create a new Personal Folders File.

Cause

The above error is encountered when Outlook is unable to find and access the PST file. This particularly occurs if one of the below conditions is true:

PST is located on a server and the server is not available when you are trying to access the file. PST file is corrupted. Outlook cannot open the file unless it is healthy.

Note: Outlook doesn’t support storing PST file on a network link. It might corrupt the file.

Solution

To troubleshoot the above error message, you need to deploy these methods:

If PST is located on a server that is unavailable, you should try contacting your system administrator for resolving the issue If server unavailability is not the concern and PST doesn’t contain any important data, you can create a new .pst file. To do so, type the name of new file in Create/Open Personal Folders File dialog box that appears in conjunction with the error message. To repair damaged PST file, you should run Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe). Click Start->Files->Files Or Folders. You need to type scanpst.exe in Named box and click to find the file. Open the tool and specify the PST file path that you want to repair. If it cannot resolve PST file corruption, you need to use commercial Data Recovery tools.

Data Recovery Software for damaged PST file are particularly designed to scan and repair damaged PST file. Such utilities make comprehensive file repair and are competent to give interactive user interface.

Stellar Phoenix Outlook PST Recovery Software is an advanced Data Recovery utility that repairs and restores damaged PST file. It supports Outlook 2007, 2003, 2002 and 2000. The software can restore all email messages, notes, journals, tasks and other Outlook items. It is a non-destructive tool that is compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 2003, 2000 and NT.