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Why do my Outlook on windows 10 and 11 PST files always keep getting corrupt?

Anonymous
2023-12-04T17:11:40+00:00

Here at work, we have a couple people using outlook from having an office 365 package. Our PST files continually quit working. Or Outlook won't start because of problems with the PST files. I have run scanpst.exe many, many times and sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. More times it does not help than it does.

All our files are backed up on a server but I cannot delete the PST file off the computer to pull in a working PST file from the day before.

One computer uses Windows 10 and the other uses windows 11. Both having the same problems.

I am open to suggestions to learn why this is so unstable for these 2 computers and welcome any true help resolving this issue.

Outlook | Windows | New Outlook for Windows | For home

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-12-08T02:55:59+00:00

    Hello Scott Baumli1,

    Thank for your reply and sharing more useful information!

    Definitely, it is not recommended that you kept saving your PST files on your network folder which may cause certain issues sometimes strangely. For my suggestion, you may try to save your PST files in your local drive of Windows system and keep monitor if still getting the same case. Since you are using the latest version of Microsoft 365 application, it is also suggested that you may upgrade to the latest version which Outlook works best when it's up to date. We recommend setting Windows Update to automatically download and install recommended updates. Bug fixes, new features, and performance enhancements are released regularly. To install the latest Windows and Office updates, see Install Office updates.

    Here is the reference shared with you for Microsoft 365 application update history:

    Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps (listed by date) - Office release notes | Microsoft Learn

    Again, your understanding and patience will be appreciated.

    Thank you!

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-12-06T20:45:31+00:00

    I did look at the How to configure the size limit for both (.pst) and (.ost) files in Outlook .

    Problem was, the options were not in my registry. It says to add stuff to the registry but the folders they needed added to were not present either.

    I am using office 2016 and the larger PST file is 5 GB. But i started a new PST and it is only 45 MB and still having a lot of problems. I have to restart outlook quite a bit because it won't send or let me delete an email. Along with the other problems i've been having.

    I have to run SCANPST.EXE quite a bit and repair my office installation a couple times a week. Not having trouble with Word or Excel, only Outlook.

    I do agree a little with the PST file size. Could it be because the PST files are in a network folder?

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-05T08:54:22+00:00

    Hello Scott Baumli1,

    Thank you for posting this case in Microsoft Community!

    Based your description: Why do your Outlook on windows 10 and 11 PST files always keep getting corrupt? I would like to cooperate with you working on this case. To clarify this case, Outlook PST file comes with a specific data storage limit depending on the Outlook version you are using. For Outlook 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2021 users the maximum limit is 50GB. Whereas, Outlook 2003 and 2007 have a maximum data storage limit of 20GB. The size of PST files should be kept within 2 GB which could be running well to prevent corruption. You may check this Microsoft article as reference:

    How to configure the size limit for both (.pst) and (.ost) files in Outlook

    For my suggestion, you may check following workaround:

    1. Firstly, the size of PST files should be kept within 2 GB but not too large or reach the maximum limit. As this will help to run PST files well to prevent corruption. And you may create another PST file if email data reach the MaxFileSize to 2 GB.
    2. You can use the Inbox Repair tool (SCANPST.EXE) to diagnose and repair errors in your Outlook data file. But this tool could not fix your PST files successfully to be 100%.
    3. If the size of some PST files is very large which also damaged, you may source third-party tools to repair or split them smaller.

    If you need further assistance, please feel free to let me know, I will keep assisting you.

    Your understanding and patience will be appreciated.

    Thank you!

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-04T21:38:56+00:00

    Not sure what i can say to help.

    All of the sudden i can't delete an email. Or i delete what is in the delete folder and then when i open Outlook again, i receive the same emails again and what i had deleted in the deleted folder comes back.

    That's one thing. The other is, I'll open outlook and it says my PST file is not an outlook file. I'll run SCANPST.EXE and repair it, but that does not help or it does but then a few hours later the file is bad again. This has continually gone on for a long time. Sometimes i revert back to Windows live mail program but would think since outlook is still being serviced by Microsoft that it would be the better choice over an obsolete program. At least Outlook Express and windows live mail worked almost flawlessly. Worst of all is we pay for our subscriptions for 365 and yet the free Live mail is better.

    I look forward to any thoughts that might help. Prefer not cue card thoughts but from someone who knows the solution.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-04T20:35:35+00:00

    Dear Scott Baumli1,

    Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

    At this very moment, we are looking into whether there could be a possible solution to this issue. We will get back to you as soon as we get any additional information about your query.

    Your patience and cooperation are much appreciated.

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