Using Classic Outlook on Windows for personal email, calendar, and contact management
Yes. The simplest supported repair path is:
- Close Outlook.
- Move the active
.pstfile out of OneDrive to a local folder that is not synced by OneDrive. Storing active Outlook.pstfiles in OneDrive can cause sync problems and corruption symptoms.- Common local location:
C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Outlook Files
- Common local location:
- In Outlook, check where the data file is currently expected:
- File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files
- Run the Inbox Repair Tool (
Scanpst.exe) against the.pstfile:- Close Outlook first.
- Start
Scanpst.exe. - Browse to the
.pstfile and select Start. - Run it several times if needed, because one pass may not fully repair the file.
- If
Scanpst.execreated a.bakfile, try recovering additional items:- Find the
.bakin the same folder as the original.pst. - Copy it and rename the copy to
*.bak.pst. - Import that file into Outlook to recover extra items.
- Find the
- If the error continues after repair, create a new Outlook profile:
- Close Outlook.
- Open Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles.
- Select Add and create a new profile.
- Add the email account again.
- Start Outlook with the new profile.
For .ost files only: if the account is Exchange-based, the offline data file can be deleted and Outlook will recreate it the next time Outlook opens.
References:
- Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)
- How to repair your Outlook personal folder file (.pst)
- Classic Outlook not responding, stuck at "Processing," stopped working, or freezes
- Find and transfer Outlook data files from one computer to another
- Outlook data file can't be accessed - Microsoft Q&A
- where should my pst files be stored? - Microsoft Q&A