I suspect I have a corrupt PST file. How do I solve this?

Symptoms

• Synchronization problems are being experienced where shared folders only contain some of the records or the data for a record is incomplete.
• Copies of shared folders have started appearing outside of the Shared Information folder and synchronization for these folders is incomplete.

Cause

This can occur in old or large PST files.

Resolution

Performing the procedure below optimizes the PST file and usually corrects the related synchronization issues.

Detail

This procedure describes how to transfer your data from an old and corrupt PST file to a new, clean, PST file:-

1. Open Outlook and click File >> Import and Export
2. Select Export to a file and click Next
3. Select Personal Folder File (.pst) and click Next
4. Select the root (top level) of the Outlook PST file and select to include sub folders. Click Next
5. Click on browse. Select a location and type a name for your PST file. Click OK
6. Click Finish
7. In the Create Microsoft Personal Folders dialogue, Click OK. Your data will be exported to a new PST file.
8. Open the Mail applet in Control Panel.
9. Click on Data files
10. Click Add, select Office Outlook Personal Folders File (.pst), click OK and navigate to the path of the PST file previously created. Select the PST file and click OK.
11. You must make this message store the default mail delivery location; if you are using Outlook 2007 you can select the message store and click on the default button in Outlook data files. However, if you are using Outlook 2003, you must close this dialogue and click on E-mail Accounts. Choose to ‘View or change existing e-mail accounts’ and set the default mail delivery location therein.
12. You may remove your old PST file by opening Outlook, selecting Go >> Folder List, right clicking on the old message store and selecting Close ‘Personal Folders’.

Note: The above procedure may be slightly different in Outlook 2000. To open a new PST file click File, New, Personal Folders File. Give the new file a name and path (C:Documents and SettingsUserLocal SettingsApplication DataMicrosoftOutlook is the default path). Once created, edit the properties for this PST file and select Deliver POP mail to this PST file. Then, when Outlook is restarted, this will become your default PST file and it will be used by WorkgroupShare. Your data in the old PST file can then be copied to the new PST file.