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.Ost exchange archive

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  • 22-10-2007 10:56am
    #1
    mastermind2005
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 339 ✭✭


    Can anyone shed light on the .ost archive file,

    I have a user that has lost there emails due to an account change...

    alls left is a 450mb .ost file and 2 .pst files named personal folders...

    the user needs her folders and emails back


    1. Have tried repairing the ost file with the windows repair tool (Scanpst.exe) and have tried 2 or 3 different programs to try and extract the info but they only recover the deleted and sent folders....

    2. have also tried importing the custom folders .pst files no avail...


    no sign of the inbox, its custom folders or the emails

    Please help....


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    #2
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    The OST is a caching file used by Outlook when connected to an Exchange mailbox. The OST should only contain a cached version of what's on the server (and anything created while offline).

    I don't think you can import/connect an old OST normally, though to the best of my knowledge there is a tool available that can dump the contents of an OST to a PST and you can go through it then.

    However, assuming that you're using exchange, there shouldn't be much in the OST that's not on the server.


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    #3
    mastermind2005
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 339 ✭✭mastermind2005


    When the account change was made whatever was on the server was overwritten...... :confused:

    So what is the purpose of this file...


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    #4
    seamus
    Registered Users Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    This file acts as cached storage for the mailbox. If the user becomes disconnected, or spends a lot of time out of the office, it allows them to have a cached version of their mail available. From a server POV, it also reduces the server traffic down to about 10% of what it is when the user is directly connected.

    Outlook won't allow you to connect an OST for a mailbox that isn't connected to its profile, probably for security purposes.

    What you can try:
    Move the OST to another folder.
    Recreate the same Exchange mailbox and connect the user's Outlook profile to it. Wait for it to sync with the server.
    Close Outlook and disconnect the machine from the network.
    Overwrite the new OST with the old one you saved above (hold a copy of the old ost though).
    Start Outlook again.
    With any luck, you should now have access to the old OST. Dump its contents to PST. If you reconnect to Exchange, Outlook will empty the OST so leave it disconnected while you extract the mail.


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    #5
    mastermind2005
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 339 ✭✭mastermind2005


    hmmm... no flies on you;)


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    #6
    joePC
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,637 ✭✭✭joePC


    Depending on what version of Outlook there using (97/98/2000/2002) you could convert it using OST2PST
    http://www.xcopy32.com/download.php?file=24


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    #7
    mastermind2005
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 339 ✭✭mastermind2005


    ill give that one a go, i have tried at least 3 other programmes...


This discussion has been closed.
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