Microsoft Outlook is one of the most widely used email clients across the globe. It offers a variety of features that make email management easy and efficient. However, like any other software, Outlook is not free from issues. One of the most common issues that Outlook users face is PST file errors. PST or Personal Storage Table is a file format used by Outlook to store email messages, contacts, calendar entries, and other data.
PST file errors can occur due to various reasons, and Microsoft provides an inbuilt tool to repair the PST files but, at times; ScanPST fails to repair the heavily corrupt file. In this article, we will discuss the most common ones along with their possible causes.
Here is a list of some common PST file error messages and their causes
“Outlook.pst cannot be accessed – 0x80040116”: This error message indicates that the PST file is corrupt and cannot be accessed.
“The file xxxx.pst is not a personal folders file”: This error message indicates that the PST file is not a valid Outlook data file.
“Errors have been detected in the file xxxx.pst”: This error message indicates that the PST file is corrupt and contains errors.
“Outlook data file cannot be found”: This error message indicates that the PST file is missing or has been deleted.
“PST File Error 0x800CCC0E”: This error message appears when the Outlook is unable to establish the connection with the mail server.
“PST File Error 0x80040115“: The cause of error message could be many but the most common one is the Outlook connection error.
“Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window“: This error message indicates that the PST file is corrupt and cannot be accessed.
“Outlook data file has reached its maximum size“: This error message indicates that the PST file has exceeded its maximum size limit.
“The operation failed. An object could not be found”: This error message indicates that the PST file is corrupt, and some objects cannot be found.
“The set of folders cannot be opened. The file xxxx.pst is in use and cannot be accessed”: This error message indicates that the PST file is open in another program and cannot be accessed.
What Causes the Error in PST Files and How to Repair It?
Causes of PST file errors can include file corruption, oversize files, network connectivity issues, antivirus or firewall interference, and hardware failure. However, by taking the proper actions, you can avoid most of the common reasons for PST errors and ensure that your Outlook works smoothly. Here is the list of possible reasons, and their solutions:
PST File Corruption: The most common cause of PST errors in file corruption. PST files become corrupt due to various reasons, such as a sudden power outage, hard disk failure, virus attack, or improper system shutdown. When a PST file is corrupt, Outlook may fail to open it; and users may experience different PST file error messages.
Oversized PST File: Outlook has a default PST file size limit of 20 GB (in older versions) or 50 GB (in newer versions). When the PST file exceeds this limit, it can cause various issues, including PST errors.
Network Connectivity Issues: Outlook requires a stable internet connection to function correctly. If your internet connection is unstable or slow, you may experience various Outlook errors, including PST errors.
Antivirus or Firewall Interference: Sometimes; antivirus or firewall software can interfere with Outlook and cause PST errors. That can happen when the antivirus or firewall software incorrectly identifies Outlook as a threat and blocks it from accessing the PST files.
Hardware Failure: Hardware failure can also cause PST errors. It can happen when the hard disk or other storage media containing the PST file fails.
Besides the above list, sometimes it is very difficult to figure out the reason for PST file corruption. In such scenarios, the most apt way is to use a Magus Outlook PST converter and convert PST into EML. Later, you can open the .eml files into any of the desired formats.
Conclusion
PST errors can be frustrating and can cause significant disruptions to your work. However, with the right solutions, you can resolve these issues and get back to using Outlook efficiently.
