PST became 0 KB after running CHKDSK

  • Print Article |
  • Send to a Friend |
  • |
  • Add to Google |

We know that MS Outlook PST files are prone to corruption at some or other point of time. Generally Corruption is associated with some of the main reasons. These main reasons are unexpected system shutdown, not closing the Outlook properly, third-party interruptions, network issues, virus attacks, software malfunction and last but not the least, 2 GB file size limitation.

Such corruption issues lead to abrupt behavior in PST file. All of a sudden your PST might show you 0 KB file size. Anyone in this situation goes berserk, as your important emails are nowhere to be seen. Sole reason for such nasty thing is corruption. MS Outlook with corrupted PST is slow at use or might even fail to open. To fix such issues, it is suggested to immediately restore the file from an updated backup copy. If backup is not available, use Outlook's inbuilt utility ‘Inbox Repair Tool'. If this one also fails, use PST Reader to get back your PST file.

Consider the following scenario:

  • You use a Windows based system and observe some file system corruption symptoms

  • To fix the errors, you run CHKDSK and it goes correctly

  • You open Outlook, but it fails with an error that it could not open default email folders

  • When you examine the PST file, it appears to be of size 0 KB

Cause

The reason behind all this is nothing but corrupted PST file. Also, this could occur because of unsuccessful CHKDSK attempts, like re-indexing and reallocating.

Solution

To Repair Outlook PST file, first use Inbox Repair Tool. You can locate the tool at one of the following locations:

:\Program Files\Common Files\System\MSMAPI\1033

:\Program Files\Common Files\System\Mapi\1033\

:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12 (for Outlook 2007)

Alternatively, you can use Windows Search or Find option. Follow these steps to run the tool:

  • Backup the PST file to prevent any post-crash consequences

  • Locate the tool at the location mentioned above

  • Open the tool by double-clicking the file

  • Type the PST file name and specify its path or you can browse to it

  • Click Start to begin the repair process

  • Exit the tool after it finishes

Now open the PST file, it would open successfully. If file is not repaired, use PST file repair tool that restores the corrupt PST file and provide you with working PST with all the email data intact.

PST Reader software is an advanced, highly result oriented software that repair and restore the damaged Outlook .PST file. User is able to resolve issue of 0 KB PST file size limitation. It can restore all PST objects, which include emails, notes, journals, tasks and calendar events. PST reader supports all versions of Microsoft Outlook 97, 98, 2000, and 2003.

Rate this Article:
  • Article Word Count: 426
  • |
  • Total Views: 180
  • |
  • permalink
  • Print Article |
  • Send to a Friend |
  • |
  • Add to Google |