How to Fix SCANPST.exe Fails to Repair PST File?

PST files can get damaged or corrupted due to several reasons, leading to several issues in Outlook, such as send/receive errors and problems during startup. However, Outlook comes with a built-in tool called SCANPST.exe, also known as the Inbox Repair Tool to fix corruption issues in PST files. This SCANPST.exe tool at times freezes, stops working midway, or even fails to repair the file.

In this guide, we’ll explain why SCANPST.exe fails to repair the PST file and share practical solutions to fix the problem. We will also share an alternative tool to repair the PST file if the SCANPST.exe doesn’t work.

Why does SCANPST.exe Freeze or Fail to Repair PST Files?

The Inbox Repair Tool may fail due to issues with your Outlook or Microsoft Office setup. For instance, corrupted program files or incomplete installation can prevent SCANPST.exe from working. However, the tool itself has certain limitations that cause it to freeze or fail during repair. These include:

• Large PST Files: SCANPST struggles to handle PST files that are too big (45-50 GB). The tool may freeze or crash while repairing such large files.
• Password Protected PST Files: If your PST file is encrypted or password-protected, SCANPST.exe cannot access or repair it.
• Severe Corruption: The tool works best for minor corruption issues. If PST file is highly damaged or corrupted, SCANPST often fails to repair it.

Methods to Troubleshoot when SCANPST.exe Freeze or Fail to Repair PST Files

If the Inbox Repair Tool or Scanpst.exe freezes or stops working, first wait for a while. Sometimes, it takes time to fix the file, especially if it’s large or heavily damaged. But if it stays stuck or crashes, try these solutions.

Method 1: Install the Latest Outlook Updates

An outdated Outlook version might have bugs that stop Scanpst.exe from working properly. Updating Outlook can fix these issues. Here’s how to update it:

• Open Outlook. Go to the File menu at the top-left corner of the screen and click Office Account or Account on the left panel.

• Under Product Information, go to Update Options > Update Now.

• Once the Outlook application is updated, restart it and then try to run SCANPST.exe again.

Method 2: Repair or Reinstall Microsoft Office

Since Outlook is a part of Microsoft Office suite, corruption in the installation files of Office program can also prevent the Inbox Repair Tool from repairing the PST files. However, there is a built-in repair feature in the installer package of MS Office program which you can use to fix the corruption issues in the program. Here are the steps:

• Launch Control Panel on your system by running ‘control’ command in the Run dialog box (Windows Key + R).

• In the Control Panel window, set the view to Categories and click Uninstall a Program. This will open a list of programs installed on your system.
• In this list, find Microsoft Office, right-click on it, and choose Change.
• From the list of options, select Repair and then click Next. After this, follow the prompts on the screen and complete the repair.
• After repair, try to repair the PST file again. If exe still freezes, you can uninstall the program and install it again.

Method 3: Manage Outlook Data File Size

Large size of PST file can also be the reason behind the SCANPST.exe freezing or crashing issue. In this scenario, you need to manage the PST file size by using Outlook features, such as Compact Now, Archive, or Auto-Archive. This can help reduce the size of the PST associated with your account.

What to do if SCANPST.exe still Fails to Repair the PST File?

If SCANPST.exe still fails to repair the PST file, you need to use a reliable PST repair tool that can efficiently repair your PST file, irrespective of the size of file or the severity of corruption. Stellar Repair for Outlook is one such Outlook PST repair tool that can repair corrupted PST files of any size without affecting the data structure of the file. You can also export the repaired PST file directly to live Exchange Server and split the file into multiple smaller files if it’s too large. Here’s how you can repair the file using this tool:

• Download Stellar Repair for Outlook from the official Stellar website and install it.
• Run the program and select the List Profiles option. The tool will find and list all the PST files from the default PST location. To select the PST file manually or from a location other than the default one, you can click Choose Manually.

• Once you’ve chosen the PST file, go ahead and click Repair. The tool will start scanning the file.

• Once the scan is complete, the tool will display the contents of your PST file in a preview window. From this window, choose the items you want to save and go to Home > Save Repaired File.

• In the Save As window, select PST or your desired file format and click Next.

• Now, select a preferred destination to save the repaired PST file, choose other options if needed, and click OK.

This will save the repaired PST file at the location you selected. You can then import the PST file into Outlook using the Import/Export Wizard.

Conclusion

The Inbox Repair Tool can sometimes freeze or crash while repairing corrupt or damaged PST file. This can happen due to its limitations and several other factors. If you are experiencing such an issue, you can follow the solutions given in this guide. If they fail to work and SCANPST.exe still fails to repair your PST file, use Stellar Repair for Outlook, a specialized PST repair tool, which can easily repair large and severely corrupt PST files. After repairing, it restores all the mailbox data to a new PST file, while maintaining integrity of data and original structure of the file.