Tag: Outlook Data Files
How to deal with an orphan Outlook .ost file
Many people mistakenly make copies of an .ost file associated with an Outlook email account not realizing that there is absolutely no value in doing so. What is an “orphan” OST file? An orphan OST file is one that has become separated from the Outlook profile/email account that was originally used to create the file. […]
Understanding 3rd party backup programs and IMAP ost files
Many people use 3rd party backup programs to safeguard their data only to be surprised that not everything gets included when the need arises. In terms of Outlook files, many programs do not include .ost files when backing up data. The reasoning behind this is that .ost files are mirrors of what is contained on […]
How to fix an Outlook .ost file
When issues occur and the suspected cause is an error in an underlying OST file, many people try correcting the issue using ScanPST. The reality is that the best way to resolve issues with an OST file is to allow Outlook to recreate the file. With Outlook closed, just need to locate the ost file […]
How to organize your Outlook email data
A question I’ve received and/or encountered on more then one occasion is “What’s the best/recommended way to organize my email?” The reality is that like so many other things, there no “one size fits all” approach. Everyone works differently, thinks differently, and have different requirements. Given that there is no one answer that is the “best” […]
Understanding the difference between PST and OST files
Every email account configured in Outlook has a data store connected to it which is either a PST or OST data file. So what’s the difference? A PST (Personal Storage) file is one that permanently stores on the local hard drive. It never gets deleted by Outlook and can be copied to other installations of […]
