Fix Header Corruption in Outlook PST File

Outlook PST file saves all the data of the account in the dedicated folders that are arranged in the B-tree structure format forming PST file header. This B-tree structure allows the user to run various actions like insertion, deletion, searches, sequential deletions etc.

However, PST file headers get corrupted frequently, over 20% of Outlook’s users report of facing this error annually. Usually, PST header corruption happens because the metadata of PST file gets corrupted. This makes it impossible for Outlook to view and read the data stored in PST file. Let’s know more about PST file header first.

How Does Header File Work?

To know more about the corruption in header part of PST file, you should know about the overall structure of a normal PST file. There are three layers of data in a PST file:

NDB Layer: NDB Layer is the lower layer of the PST file that contains the Header, blocks, File Header (B-Tree structure), file allocation information, etc.
LTP Layer: LTP Layer offers the logical high-level concept that work on the NDB Layer.
Messaging Layer: The Messaging Layer is the top layer that uses the concepts created at the LTP Layer and structure created at the NDB Layer. The messaging layer is responsible for keeping the message store, folders, attachments, etc.

The header part of the PST file that is present at the very beginning of the NDB layer has the metadata of the information saved in the PST file. The Header file structure for the ANSI and UNICODE file formats are different.

If there is corruption in the header file, then it means that the PST file will not open, and all your information will be inaccessible.

Symptoms of Header Corruption

Here are the possible symptoms of Header corruption in Outlook are:

Outlook application doesn’t start.
PST file is inaccessible, or the folders appear to be empty.
Mailbox items like emails, attachments, contacts, etc. disappear or get deleted.
PST file shows the error code “0x80040600 (Send/Receive error)” or “The file is not a personal folders file” error.
Outlook crashes frequently while trying to view a PST file or sending/receiving an email.

Causes of Header File Corruption

Header corruption in your PST file might result from either damage or corruption to the hosting of your Outlook PST File. We’ve explained the most common PST Header corruption causes:

System crash: If your system crashes due to power surge or outage while you’re working on the PST file, it can give rise to corruption.
Storage drive corruption: Bad sectors in drives where your PST files are stored can damage the file header.
Incomplete file transfer: PST file can get damaged if the file transfer or download is interrupted in between.
Virus/malware infection: Virus attacks permanently damage, delete, or modify PST file components, including PST file header.

The damage may come from either hardware failure or virus attack to your computer system where PST file is saved

The main cause of the corruption in the header file is a damaged or corrupt PST file. The damage may be due to the hardware or software corruption or virus attack to your file location where the PST file is saved.

Methods to Fix Header Corruption in Outlook PST File

There are two manual methods to fix corrupt PST Email header, one is using ScanPST.exe and the second one is by using Hex Editor. Although the hex editor method is tricky for someone without photo editing knowledge, I’ve used ScanPST numerous times to repair minor corruption in my PST files.

Fix 1. Resolve PST Header Corruption Issue Using Scanpst.Exe

First and foremost, you can quickly fix the error by using the Inbox Repair tool. So, if you are facing the header corruption issue, you could try to use Inbox Repair or ScanPST.exe and fix the error. Follow these simple steps :

Note: Close all instances of Outlook before starting the repair process with the Inbox Repair tool.

Step 1: Go to C Drive, and click on Program Files (x86).

Step 2: Select the Microsoft Office folder.

Step 3: Go to Root.

Step 4: Then go to Office 16.

Step 5: Search for SCANPST.EXE.

Step 6: Click on it. The Following Window is displayed:

Step 7: In the given search box on your displayed window, type name of your corrupt PST file and then click on your Browse option. Then press Start. The process of scanning begins.

Step 8: On completion, you get the following window which is displayed then click on Repair.

Step 9: After Repair is done, then click OK.

Fix 2. Use a Hex Editor to Resolve PST Header Corruption Issue

This is an advanced method to fix header corruption in Outlook PST File, requiring strong technical skills. Even a single mistake can damage your PST file. Follow the steps to perform this method:

Note: Before proceeding with this method, take a backup of all your data to avoid data loss.

Step 1: Download and launch a reliable Hex Editor like HxD or UltraEdit.

Step 2: Open the corrupt PST file in the editor and look for the first byte. If it’s 00, then corruption is confirmed.

Step 3: Replace the header values of position 7-13 to 00.

Step 4: Save the PST file with the changes and exit the Hex Editor.

Step 5: Now run ScanPST.exe and repair the modified PST file with the corrupt file header.

Step 6: Open the repaired PST file in Outlook again to see if corrupt PST header is resolved or not.

What Happens When ScanPST Fails?

If you've run the Inbox repair scan tool and still you cannot access the PST, then there’s high level of corruption in your PST file which can’t be repaired by the Inbox Repair tool. You need the help of a professional Outlook PST repair tool to fix your PST file without damaging it even further. Let’s look at the benefits of using the software which sets it apart from others.

It is capable of fixing all the different types of PST file problems and then makes your mailbox accessible in your Outlook including the corruption in the header.
This software easily recovers all the files which you might have permanently deleted, without any problem. And to separate the deleted items, they are left highlighted in red to catch your notice.
It enables the users to preview emails before saving them. To segregate these files from the rest, they are highlighted in red.
It preserves original data without losing anything on your parrot.
Moreover, The tool helps you to split those PST files which are large into smaller files with its options for splitting.
Additionally, the Tool also enables the users to export email messages to the cloud-based Office 365.

Final Verdict

Summarizing the above information, anyone can fix header corruption error in Outlook PST using the Inbox Repair tool. But if the PST file is severely corrupted that even ScanPST.exe fails to fix, then take the help of a professional tool like Kernel for Outlook PST Repair. It is a simple tool with an efficient user-interface and needs minimum number of steps to complete the recovery procedure.

How to Fix Header Corruption in Outlook PST File?