Offline Folders (OST) file plays a pivotal role when working in an Exchange environment integrated with MS Outlook. An OST file is automatically created when you work in the MS Outlook offline mode. This file is saved as a local file in your system and contains a backup of all the Exchange mailbox data. They are beneficial in Exchange downtime situations when you do not have access to your mailbox on the server. All changes made to the OST file while working offline are synchronized when you connect to the Exchange server. However, if the Exchange administrator accidentally deletes your mailbox on the server, then the OST file will become orphaned. In such circumstances, you can easily get back all your lost data by performing reliable Outlook OST to PST conversion.
Besides deletion of user mailbox, there are a plethora of reasons that bring forth the need to convert Outlook OST to PST. You may occasionally run across various mailbox corruption cases that could make all your Exchange data inaccessible. This may happen due to several factors, such as virus attacks, upgrading from old to new server, rebuilding information stores in Exchange server, unexpected server shutdowns, software malfunctioning or hardware failures. The OST files act as a replica of your mailbox and help you regain access to your inaccessible information in the event of such disasters. You can convert Outlook OST to PST and import that PST back into your Exchange server information stores.
MS Outlook has a provision to copy emails in your OST file to a PST file. To do this, you need to start the application in offline mode and add a service named ‘Personal Folders (PST)’. After adding this service, select the emails that you need to copy and click ‘Copy’ on the ‘File’ menu. In the ‘Copy Items’ dialog box, specify the Personal Folders that you created recently. You need to repeat the process for copying emails in each mail folder. Finally, you can import these copied messages to a new server-based mailbox.
Another method that appears to be more safe and reliable is to use advanced OST2PST Converter tools. These third-party software can effectively extract data from orphaned OST files and restore it to an equivalent Outlook PST. They can easily convert all OST objects, including emails, calendar entries, contacts, notes, attachments, journals, etc. Moreover, they have support for all the latest Outlook versions, i.e. MS Outlook 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, and 2000.
Besides deletion of user mailbox, there are a plethora of reasons that bring forth the need to convert Outlook OST to PST. You may occasionally run across various mailbox corruption cases that could make all your Exchange data inaccessible. This may happen due to several factors, such as virus attacks, upgrading from old to new server, rebuilding information stores in Exchange server, unexpected server shutdowns, software malfunctioning or hardware failures. The OST files act as a replica of your mailbox and help you regain access to your inaccessible information in the event of such disasters. You can convert Outlook OST to PST and import that PST back into your Exchange server information stores.
MS Outlook has a provision to copy emails in your OST file to a PST file. To do this, you need to start the application in offline mode and add a service named ‘Personal Folders (PST)’. After adding this service, select the emails that you need to copy and click ‘Copy’ on the ‘File’ menu. In the ‘Copy Items’ dialog box, specify the Personal Folders that you created recently. You need to repeat the process for copying emails in each mail folder. Finally, you can import these copied messages to a new server-based mailbox.
Another method that appears to be more safe and reliable is to use advanced OST2PST Converter tools. These third-party software can effectively extract data from orphaned OST files and restore it to an equivalent Outlook PST. They can easily convert all OST objects, including emails, calendar entries, contacts, notes, attachments, journals, etc. Moreover, they have support for all the latest Outlook versions, i.e. MS Outlook 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, and 2000.
