To Resolve "File *.ost is not an offline folder file." Error - Convert OST to PST

Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Outlook applications collaboratively creates an e-communication environment. MS Exchange server stores mailboxes of all users in a single EDB file i.e. Exchange Database file. For each user's mailbox a separate profile is created that can be accessed through outlook with different credentials. On every users local system an exact replica of their mailbox is stored in .ost format, this OST file is the offline storage file that gets synchronized with the exchange server mailbox every time you get connect with the Mailbox Server. After proper synchronization the OST file automatically gets converted into PST file that is accessible with Outlook.

But some times the OST file gets corrupted due to reasons like improper synchronization, malicious virus attacks or various other reasons. This corrupted OST file can not be converted automatically into PST file when it get connected with the Exchange Server, and the ost file becomes inaccessible with all its content.

Consider a practical situation, when you try to start MS Outlook and you come across the following error message.

"Cannot open your default email folders. The file *.ost is not an offline folder file."

Two reasons that may be responsible for this error message are as follows.

1.OST file gets corrupt due to malicious virus attacks or some other file related issues and MS Outlook is not able to recognize the file.

2.When OST file becomes inaccessible i.e. user is unable to access the file with MS Outlook then the error might have occurred while pursuing synchronization.

In case, when it is confirmed that damage to ost file results in ost file inaccessibility then one can use ost repair tool and may recover the OST file. But if the OST file becomes unusable due to improper synchronization, then one should convert OST to PST file to recover the OST file.

OST to PST Conversion can be performed easily by using third party convert ost to pst tool. Such ost to pst conversion softwares are especially developed to convert the .ost to .pst file. Convert ost to pst tools are capable to convert all the contents of ost file like e mails, contacts, attachments, notes, journals etc. into .pst file, they can also convert the encrypted or password protected ost to pst file. Such tools supports all the latest versions of Windows like Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2003, and Outlook 2010. 2007, 2003, 2002.

Convert OST PST tool to resolve "object could not be found" Error

When you want to access data from the MS Exchange Server mailbox or update the OST file stored on your system, you have to synchronize the .ost file with Exchange Server. This synchronization of OST file with MS Exchange Server means you are imitating data between Exchange Server and Offline filder file i.e. .ost file. OST file is a copy of Exchange Server mailbox that is stored on the client system. When synchronization between Exchange Server and OST file takes place, .OST file gets automatically converted into .PST (Personal Storage Table) file and gets updated with all the changes as in Exchange Server and Exchange Server is updated with the changes in OST file.

But if somehow the synchronization process fails, the conversion of OST to PST can not be completed successfully, and due to this improper synchronization OST file can be corrupted and become inaccessible. BUt it is not so, thst you can never access your corrupt ost file, you can use ost to pst conversion utility to manually onvert ost to pst file.

What happens when you try to synchronize .OST file with the Exchange server in MS Outlook 2003, following error message may occur in Sync Issues directory of MS Outlook: "0×8004010F An object could not be found". When you attempt to send a mail after receiving the above error message, you get the following error message in MS Office Outlook 2003: "Task 'Microsoft Exchange Server' reported error (0×8004010F): 'Operation failed. Object could not be found.'" This behaviour resulting in the end of synchronization process and you cannot associate with the Exchange Server. Finally, it stops OST to PST conversion process.

Basic cause of Error

Below mentioned situations may be responsible for such errors:

Missing or incorrect address listing offline address book list
Missing address list in offline address book list
The OST on the local systems file is either corrupt or unusable.


To resolve this problem view Properties in Address lists setting of Exchange server manager, verify the Address list validity. If the list is not valid you can add the new list

But many of the times this method fails. In such situations one should use email conversion softwares that convert the corrupted .ost file into accessible .pst file. Such tools uses advance scanning techniques to efficiently convert OST to PST file. After converting the OST to PST file, the resulting PST file can be accessed with MS Outlook.

OST to PST Converter is an efficient and affordable tool to convert the OST file into PST file. It supports Windows 7, vista, XP, 2003 and MS Outlook 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002. As having Outlook resembling GUI, it is very easy to use and does not require any technical expertise.