pradeep-katiyar
Member
Here are the common reasons why PST files can become corrupted:
- Abrupt System Shutdown: Sudden power outages, computer crashes, or forced shutdowns during Outlook operations can disrupt the writing process to the PST file. This interruption can lead to corruption by compromising the file structure.
- Oversized PST Files: Older Outlook versions (before Outlook 2003) used the ANSI PST format, which had a limit of 2GB. Exceeding that size could significantly increase the risk of corruption. While newer versions use the larger capacity Unicode PST format, massive files are still more prone to corruption and performance issues.
- Storage Media Issues: Bad sectors on your hard drive or problems with network drives where the PST file is stored can cause physical damage to the PST file header or parts of the file itself—leading to corruption.
- Virus or Malware Attacks: Viruses and other malicious software can infect and deliberately damage PST files, causing corruption or data loss.
- Improper Outlook Termination: Closing Outlook abruptly without exiting it properly can prevent it from saving changes to the PST file correctly, increasing the chances of corruption.
- Third-Party Add-ins: Incompatible or faulty Outlook add-ins can interfere with the normal functioning of Outlook, sometimes leading to PST file corruption.
- Network Issues: When PST files are stored on a network, connectivity problems during file access or sharing processes can lead to data corruption.