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User Query: “Why does my ScanPST.exe fail to repair my PST file issues, and what is the best way to fix PST files without ScanPST.exe? Does anybody know a reliable ScanPST.exe alternative tool to fix all my PST issues. I want to recover all my Outlook data safely without any data loss?”
What is ScanPST.exe?
The Inbox Repair Tool (ScanPST.exe) is a Microsoft utility to repair damaged Outlook Data Files (OST and PST). It checks the internal structure of the PST file and tries to fix errors that may prevent Outlook from opening or working properly. It is commonly used when users face issues like Outlook crashes, missing emails, or file access errors.
Now, let’s find out where you can get ScanPST.exe in your system.
Where is ScanPST.exe Located?
Locate ScanPST.exe (Inbox Repair Tool) in different Windows Operating Systems, such as:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 (for 64-bit Windows)
C:\Program Files (*86) \Microsoft Office\Office16 (for 32-bit Windows)
After finding ScanPST.exe, double-click on it to install on your computer. Now, let’s start repairing issues of your PST file using Inbox Repair tool.
How to Repair PST file? With/Without ScanPST.exe
Take a look at the best way to fix your PST file issues. Here we will cover two categories: Fixing PST with ScanPST.exe and without ScanPST.exe.
Using ScanPST.exe
Here is the step-by-step process to repair PST file using ScanPST.exe:
- Close Outlook: Exit Outlook completely and any other applications using the PST file.
- Run the Tool: Double-click SCANPST.EXE.
- Select the PST File: Click Browse to select the corrupted PST file you want to scan.
- Start the Scan: Click Start to begin checking for errors.
- Repair the File: If errors are found, check “Make backup of scanned file before repairing” and click Repair.
Complete the Repair: Once the scan says, “Repair complete,” open Outlook to verify the data.
Things to Remember
- Backup: Always back up your PST file before running the repair to avoid potential data loss.
- Multiple Runs: For severely damaged files, you may need to run scanpst.exe multiple times until no errors remain.
- ScanPST.exe Alternative tool: If the file is too large or severely damaged, ScanPST might fail, requiring an Outlook PST Repair tool.
Why ScanPST.exe Fail to Repair PST File?
- ScanPST fixes only minor header issues, not major corruption or errors.
- It mostly fails on large PST files or oversized data structures.
- Cannot recover deleted emails or lost mailbox items from PST file.
- Does not support encrypted or password-protected PST files.
- It stops unexpectedly during scan in some cases.
What To Do When ScanPST Fails?
When ScanPST.exe fails, it usually means your PST file has deeper corruption than can be handled by a ScanPST.exe alternative tool. But before jumping onto the alternative directly, you can opt for some free manual methods to fix PST file without ScanPST.exe.
Without ScanPST.exe
There are numerous manual methods to fix corruption in your PST file. Let’s know all methods one by one.
Method 1: Create a New Outlook Profile
When your PST file shows some errors, try to create a fresh Outlook profile and connect to your account again. It will help when configuration errors cause issues, not file corruption.
Method 2: Import Backed-up PST File
If your organization takes a daily backup of your Outlook data in a PST file. Then, it is easier for you to replace your corrupt PST with a new PST. Import a healthy backed-up PST file into Outlook.
Method 3: Use a Professional ScanPST Alternative Tool
When manual methods fail, use a reliable ScanPST alternative tool to fix the severe corruption in your PST file. Kernel for Outlook PST Repair tool is one of the best tools in the market to repair corrupt, damaged, inaccessible, and inactive PST files with ease. Along with the repair functions, it can easily recover deleted emails, contacts, and attachments.
Additional Benefits of the Outlook PST Repair Tool
- Repair multiple PST files at once with bulk PST repair support.
- Recover permanently deleted emails, attachments, contacts, and mailbox items easily.
- Support for password-protected and Unicode/ANSI PST files securely.
- Preview complete mailbox data before saving for accurate recovery.
- Export repaired PST data into multiple formats like PST, MSG, PDF, EML, and more.
- Transfer PST data directly to Office 365, Exchange Server, and cloud platforms.
How to Fix PST File Corruption Using the ScanPST.exe Alternative Tool?
Here is the step-by-step process to fix corrupt PST file on Windows without ScanPST:
Step 1: Download, install, and launch the Kernel for Outlook PST Repair tool.
Step 2: On the software’s home screen, click on Select File . 
Step 3: Click on Browse to add PST files from your system and click Next.
Step 4: In the following window, read the entire information related to PST Repair and click Finish.
Step 5: The software retrieves the entire PST file and shows all files and folders. Select any file or folder to preview its data
Step 6: Click on Save.
Step 7: Now, select the output file type as PST and click Next.
Step 8: In the Select Filter(s) window, apply different filters like From, To, Subject, Folder Name, Item Type, and Date Range. Click Next for selective data conversion.
Step 9: Select the required PST splitting option and click Next.
Step 10: Select the saving path to save output PST file, hit Finish.
Step 11: After the successful repair, you will get a notification that the PST file has been successfully saved at the given location. Click OK to finalize the conversion process.
Final Thoughts
When the ScanPST.exe tool fails to repair your PST file, then make sure to create a new account in your Outlook and move all your data into it. Additionally, you can import a backed-up PST file to re-access your data. However, these methods don’t work properly in severe corruption cases.
Thus, relying on a ScanPST.exe Alternative tool, like Kernel for Outlook PST Repair, can be a prominent solution to get back your PST data. It deeply scans the corrupt PST files and quickly recovers mailbox items like emails, contact lists, calendar events, tasks, and notes, etc.
