Outlook Recovery Kit - Online help

The use of Outlook Recovery Kit (Download) for repairing corrupted pst files implies that you closely stick to the sequence of actions during data recovery and precisely follow the instructions. When you repair damaged *.pst files, you have to go through several steps one by one:

Recovering lost data from Microsoft Outlook *.pst files with Outlook Recovery Kit

1. Selecting the source *.pst file you want to repair

To select the source pst file, specify the path to this file in Outlook Recovery Kit. To do it, use the button and select the file you need from the list of files/profiles or specify its location on the disk. If the current user has only one Profile all data from which is stored in one pst file, the path to this file will be automatically displayed the address field of the dialog box. Otherwise you will have to select the file pst you want to repair manually. If you have already repaired this file before, you can select the path to it from the list that will open if you click the button in the right part of the address field.

If you do not know the path to the .pst file you need to repair, use the built-in search of files on the disk available in Outlook Recovery Kit. To use the built-in search, click the Search for .pst & .ost files button. After that specify the search area (select one of the disks) and specify the extension of files to search for (select .pst, .ost or *.* in the Search Files with extension list). The Stop Search button becomes available after you start searching. You can use it to stop searching for files at any moment when the search built into Outlook Recovery Kit is in progress.

When the search is over, select one of the files from the list in the central part of the search panel and click the OK button. The path to selected file will be displayed in the address field of Outlook Recovery Kit.

Notes:

If you are repairing a .pst file under Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003, you will need rights to access system files and folders where Microsoft Outlook stores original .pst files.

2. Select work Mode
  • Recovery mode - If you have a corrupted PST/OST file then use this mode to bring back to life as much content as possible
  • Converter mode - If you have a healthy OST file and you need to convert it into a new PST file or if you have a healthy PST/OST file and you want to extract data out of it into separate .msg/.eml/.vcf files then use converter mode.
3. Reading (detecting and recovering) data from the selected *.pst file

Identifying and recovering data from a corrupted pst file will start right after you click the Yes button in the Do you wish to start recovery? dialog box that Outlook Recovery Kit will show after you select the .pst file you want to repair and click the Next button.

Depending on the performance of your computer and the size of the .pst file being processed, the recovery process will take some time. After the data has been read, folders recovered from the corrupted .pst file and their contents will be available for viewing (the Folder List and the Items List respectively).

Notes:

you will be able to move on to the next recovery step (the Next button will become available), if the program finds more than one item in the source .pst file.

4. Specifying the path where to save the recovered data

The third recovery step is giving Outlook Recovery Kit the path where to save data successfully recovered in the previous step. To specify the path to save data to, you should either type it manually in the Folder for save field or use the button. After you click this button, you will see a dialog box where you should select the folder to save the recovered data to. You can also use a path from the Folder for save drop-down list if you have already saved data before.

Notes:

The size of free space on the disk must be at least twice as much as the size of the .pst file you are repairing. The red color of the value in the Required free disk space field informs you that there is not enough space on the disk.

5. Selecting the method of saving the recovered data

Outlook Recovery Kit offers you two ways to save data recovered from the corrupted *.pst file:

  • as one or several new *.pst files;
  • as separate files with the *.msg, *.eml, *.vcf and *.txt extensions.

In the first case, these files can be later opened and used in Microsoft Outlook. In the second case, they can be imported into mail clients supporting these standards (most mail clients support these popular data formats).

If necessary, select the checkboxes in the left column of the Recovered e-mail list next to the messages you want to save.

Taking into account that Microsoft Outlook cannot export messages to *.eml files, Outlook Recovery Kit can be used to move mail from this mail client to other mail clients supporting message files with the .eml extension. It is also possible to export and then import contacts and notes as .vcf and .txt files.

Notes:

It is possible to save the recovered data as pst files only if Microsoft Outlook 98 or later is installed on your computer.

6. Saving the data to the disk

A click on the Save button start the process of saving data to the disk. After all recovered data have been successfully saved to the disk as .pst files or as separate files with the eml, vcf and txt extensions, the program will show a detailed report about what has been done in the form of a separate statistics sheet. It will include: the path to the Source PST file, the number of Recovered Folders in the .pst file, the number of Recovered Items, the path to the new Saved PST file(s).

7. Selecting one of the two possible variants of importing data:
  • a). Opening the new *.pst file in Microsoft Outlook.

    If you want to use the new *.pst files in your work with Microsoft Outlook, select the File item and then click:

    • Outlook Data File in Microsoft Outlook XP, Microsoft Outlook 2003;
    • Personal Folders File (.pst)... in Microsoft Outlook 2000;
    • Open Special Folder in earlier Microsoft Outlook versions.
  • Select the necessary file after that and confirm your choice.

  • b). Importing *.vcf and *.eml files.

    Separate files are imported into Microsoft Outlook Express by dragging these *.eml files from Windows Explorer to the folder opened in the mail client. To do it, you should select all files with the *.eml extension that you want to import, capture any of the selected files with the left mouse button and drag the group of the selected files to the window with the folder opened in Outlook Express.

    Unfortunately, it is impossible to import *.eml files into Microsoft Outlook folders in the same way because it will not be completely correct. To move separate *.eml files, we strongly recommend that you stick to the following sequence of actions:

    1. 1. Import separate *.eml files into Microsoft Outlook Express folders first. To do it:
      • simultaneously start Microsoft Outlook Express and Windows Explorer;
      • use Shift+arrows or Ctrl+left mouse button to select all necessary *.eml files;
      • capture the selected group of files with the left mouse button by clicking any of the selected files and holding down the button and drag these *.eml files to the Microsoft Outlook Express folder
      Notes:

      Create a new folder in Microsoft Outlook Express for importing *.eml files before that.

      1. Start Microsoft Outlook and select the Import&Export item in the File menu of the main menu.
      2. Select the Import Internet Mail and Addresses option and click the Next button.
      3. Select the Outlook Express 4.x, 5 option, leave the Import Mail item selected and import files by clicking the Finish button.
    2. 2. Separate vcf files are imported into Windows Address Book in the following way:
      • select all files with the *.vcf extension that you want to import in Windows Explorer;
      • capture any of the selected files with the left mouse button and move the group of the selected files to the Windows Address Book window or to the Contacts folder opened in Microsoft Outlook.

VCF and EML files can also be imported into other mail clients and programs supporting these files.